Australia to rest pacers from opening ODIs
Jan 11, 2018 at 1:29 PM
Josh Hazlewood is given a rest from the first ODI against England while Pat Cummins will be benched in the second ODI as Australia look to keep their fast bowlers fit ahead of the important South Africa series.
Andrew Tye or Jhye Richardson will make their ODI debut in the series opener in Hazlewood’s absence. Hazlewood will come back for the second ODI, while Cummins will give it a miss.
Chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns had already stated Cummins, Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc wouldn’t play all matches in the one-day series as they look ahead of March’s Test series in the Rainbow Nation.
Having featured in all the five Ashes Test Cummins, and Hazlewood are the first ones to rest, while Starc will take a break during later half of the series. Starc and Cummins will spearhead the attack at MCG on Sunday and, depend on conditions, both Tye and Richardson could join them in a four-man pace attack ahead of spinner Adam Zampa.
Cummins said he was expecting to be rested from some cricket last week.
“They’re going to reassess after this game (the fifth Test in Sydney). There was a bit of chat we might rest from one or two. We’ve got a bit of a break before the ODIs start. I don’t know yet. It takes a little bit to get over each Test but once you’re over a Test, you’re ready to start bowling and 10 overs in an ODI is a bit easier than a Test,” Cummins told the reporters.
Cummins said he was surprised to see his durability and the docile nature of pitches during his maiden home Test series.
“I’ve been really surprised with how well I’ve pulled up after each game. If we’d had a few heavier games and I had a few aches and pains then it probably would have been spoken about,” Cummins signed off.
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