Australia back pace trio for Cricket World Cup 2027

As the build-up for next year’s ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup intensifies, Australia are set to feature in a three-match ODI series in Pakistan.

Led by Mitchell Marsh, the 15-member squad is missing the chief architects behind their win in the 2023 edition. While all of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and full-time skipper Pat Cummins won’t be playing the series, Australia head coach Andrew McDonald has emphasized their importance in the scheme of things.

"I think people look at the immediate games and go, 'Well, why aren't they playing there?'" McDonald said.

"But if you actually work back from 2027 and look at what we've got coming up, this is the last significant break that we get to invest into their bodies to set themselves up to get all the way through to 2027. We are planning for them to be there in 2027,” he added.

The veteran pace troika of Cummins, Hazlewood and Starc had combined for a total of 47 wickets in Australia’s sixth ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup triumph three years ago.

However, the three haven’t featured in an ODI together since November 2024, during the home series against Pakistan.

Cummins for instance, has only featured in two of Australia’s last 22 appearances in the format. 

It’s here that McDonald believes the team’s management of the pacers is crucial ahead of next year’s tournament. 

"We have done this before also in 2023. The biggest difference is we're four years older.

"I think we're well placed if we're fit and healthy. And that's going to be the biggest challenge. How do we get the players through that demand? How do we manage them, in particular our fast bowlers?

"We are getting older, so that's going to create some different management challenges. They've been incredibly robust, a lot of those players, and a few have had a few recent (injury) pickups, so it's something that we need to invest a lot of time into."

In the absence of some of the seasoned players, McDonald believes, an opportunity has presented itself for other members of the squad to rise up to the task. 

Among them, is all-rounder Cameron Green, who offers Australia a handy pace outlet and a sturdy batting option, suitable for the conditions on offer at next year’s Cricket World Cup.

"I think he's got the ability to play high up the order and low," McDonald told reporters.

"He does have some power, and we saw that in that top-end series last year against South Africa, his ability to finish off that innings, and with the absence of Glenn Maxwell we had that conversation

"The team that we are, we keep these things open. Experiment is not the right word, but we'll look at different ways to play in the journey to the 2027 World Cup and where he fits exactly in that. We've got some options there because of his range of skills, but definitely the bowling is a big part of that.”

Australia will play the first ODI against Pakistan on May 30 in Rawalpindi.

Australia ODI squad for Pakistan: Mitchell Marsh (c), Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Riley Meredith, Oliver Peake, Matthew Renshaw, Tanveer Sangha, Liam Scott, Matt Short, Billy Stanlake, Adam Zampa

Series schedule:

First ODI: May 30, Rawalpindi 
Second ODI: June 2, Lahore
Third ODI: June 4, Lahore