Cummins edges towards ODI comeback, middle-order in focus

Pat Cummins firmed to play his first ODI in two years on Saturday as Australia's challenged middle order looked to address its issues after being robbed of one of its key members in South Africa.

Back at the Wanderers ground on which he made his memorable Test debut as a teenager 15 years ago, Cummins was put through his paces more than 1,600 metres above sea level a day out from the second ODI in Johannesburg.

After a lengthy, multi-effort running session, the Test captain batted in the nets and shapes as a likely inclusion – if not on Sunday, then certainly in Wednesday's series finale in Potchefstroom. Xavier Bartlett will also be in line for a recall if selectors choose to manage both Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.

But Australia's batting is the bigger concern after Josh Inglis' broken finger has left their engine room without one of its best performed batters. After his century against Zimbabwe last week, the wicketkeeper has scored as many centuries (two) as the rest of their Nos.3-7 have made since the 2023 World Cup.

Matthew Renshaw tonned up from No.6 against Zimbabwe last week but the onus is on him and the rest of the middle-order to show it can stand up against one of world cricket's best white-ball outfits on their home turf.

In Durban on Thursday, the Aussies bottled their chase of 298 after Mitch Marsh and Travis Head took them to 0-90 after 9.1 overs, with left-arm tweakers Keshav Maharaj and Bjorn Fortuin running riot. It exposed a longer-term vulnerability against orthodox spin; no ODI team has a lower average than Australia's 21.73 against that type of bowling since the '23 World Cup.

Adam Zampa, the leg-spinner who had earlier claimed 2-50 from seven overs, suggested the slow turn he found in the morning was replaced by a more threatening zip later on.

"Maharaj in particular can get the best out of the wickets with his skill set. He was tough to face," Zampa told cricket.com.au. "We didn't really know how to get a read on the wicket in Durban.

"We also thought that where the game was set up, we were in with a good chance of winning. It's an experience for the middle-order batters in particular, how to navigate through those situations if they get the opportunity again.

"When you look at our team from afar, it's still very inexperienced through the middle order in particular. There's no hiding behind the fact that Mitch and 'Heady' try and get off to a fast start. If that comes off, it obviously makes it easier for the middle order."

Inglis' early departure from the 50-over leg of the tour means Australia's three through seven in their batting line-up will have no remaining members from their '23 World Cup final win in those positions.

Marsh batted three but has since replaced the retired David Warner as Head's opening partner. Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell have also hung up the boots from 50-over cricket, while Marnus Labuschagne has been dropped.

One of the reserves for the final, Marcus Stoinis, has given away ODIs too; two others, Cameron Green and Alex Carey, now shape as important replacements for the next two ODIs, along with Renshaw.

After playing as a specialist bat in the first ODI against South Africa, Green appears close to a return to bowling after sending down two spells at training on Saturday. Carey meanwhile will take the gloves in Inglis' absence having lost his spot as a batter when Green returned at Kingsmead.

Green or Renshaw will likely take Inglis' spot at four. Ollie Peake should come back into the mix to bat at No.7 over Jack Edwards if Green is back bowling, while the uncapped Joel Davies is another option if they want another left-arm spinner after Cooper Connolly only bowled one over in the first ODI.

"The energy's still the same (from the 2023 World Cup), it's still the same core group, it's just some slight changes," said Zampa.

"Obviously, Steve is a big loss for us in one-day cricket. That kind of anchor role, and then someone who can clear the fence at the back-end as well. Having someone who can bat through the innings, a good player of spin is always going to be a big loss.

"I think Stoinis and Maxwell towards the back end of the innings, making the most of a healthy start, and having the power there at the back end is two roles as well that we're trying to find within the batting group.

"We think we've got it – I think the inexperience was probably shown a little bit last game, but more games and more time and opportunity, and everyone will get better at it."

Qantas tour of South Africa 2026

All matches to be broadcast exclusively in Australia on Kayo and Fox Cricket

First ODI: South Africa beat Australia by 67 runs

Second ODI: September 27, Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, 6pm AEST (10am local)

Third ODI: September 30, JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom, 9:30pm AEST (D/N, 1:30pm local)

South Africa ODI squad: Temba Bavuma (c), Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Bjorn Fortuin, Duan Jansen, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Nqobani Mokoena, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs

Australia ODI squad: Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Marsh, Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Joel Davies, Jack Edwards, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Oliver Peake, Matthew Renshaw, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa

Warm-up match: October 3-4, JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom, 6pm AEST (10am local)

First Test: October 9-13, Kingsmead Stadium, Durban, 6:30pm AEDT (9:30am local)

Second Test: October 18-22, St George's Park, Gqeberha, 7pm AEDT (10am local)

Third Test: October 27-31, Newlands, Cape Town, 7:30pm AEDT (10:30am local)

Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster