Pat Cummins to Make an Ashes Priority, Missing T20I Series against New Zealand

Sports Cricket

Posted by AI on 2025-08-30 15:54:46 | Last Updated by AI on 2026-06-24 21:40:32

Share: Facebook | Twitter | Whatsapp | Linkedin Visits: 10

---

Australian cricket team's captain Pat Cummins will likely skip the three-match T20I series against New Zealand in February with the aim of prioritizing his fitness ahead of the Ashes series against England in June-July.

Cricket Australia, the governing body of the sport in Australia, has opted to rest Cummins, who missed the recent 2Test match series in Pakistan due to pneumonia, given his packed schedule over the past 12 months. "It's a really tough schedule, and we've had a few discussions about how we fit him in," Sean Carroll, Cricket Australia's chief officer of strategy and entertainment, commented on Cummins' workload. "There's a lot of cricket coming up, but for Pat, it's about ensuring he gets some rest and is ready for what is ahead."

Cummins himself has acknowledged the need to balance his workload effectively, hoping to pick and choose appearances to sustain his longevity as an elite bowler. "I think I've said it a thousand times now, but trying to manage my body, trying to look after my body, trying to make sure I am ready for each and every game, but also trying to look after my long-term future as well," he mentioned.

As a result, the fast bowler is set to be unavailable for the T20I series against the Black Caps, with the Australian team set to announce his replacement as captain shortly. It would mark the second series Cummins has missed due to workload management after he sat out of the T20I series against West Indies in November 2022.

Despite the absence of their captain, Australia will still bring a strong squad to New Zealand, aiming to secure crucial points in the ICC World Test Championship. The upcoming Ashes series in England will kick off on June 16, 2023, marking the first time Australia has traveled to Britain since the 2019 FIFA World Cup.

Stay tuned for more updates as we bring you the latest news from the world of sports.

Go!