Australian Test captain Pat Cummins will take a well-earned break and skip the white-ball series in far north Queensland next month.
Cummins has been left out of the squad selected to play six one-day internationals – three against New Zealand and three against Zimbabwe.
The Aussies returned home from the multi-format series in Sri Lanka earlier this month, and Cummins will take leave from his duties in order to prepare for the Australian summer.
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Australia will play three ODIs against Zimbabwe in Townsville on August 28, 31, and September 3. Then the team heads to Cairns to play New Zealand on September 6, 8, and 11.
It’s the first time the men’s national team has played in Townsville, and their first time in Cairns since 2004.
“These series against New Zealand, the world’s No.1 ranked ODI side, and Zimbabwe will be good contests and provide an opportunity to play some great cricket in the lead-up to the home summer,” Australian selector George Bailey said.
“The team is excited to be marking the start of a huge summer with these matches in North Queensland.”
Cummins is rested while Travis Head has been excused from the tour due to the pending birth of his child.
They are joined by spin bowlers Mitchell Swepson and Matthew Kuhneman, as well as Jhye Richardson and Josh Inglis as the players to drop out of the squad from the Sri Lanka tour.
Fast bowler Sean Abbott returns to the squad, as does first-choice white ball spinner Adam Zampa, who missed the last tour due to the birth of his first child.
The dual series is part of the ODI Super League and will help determine qualification for the 50-over World Cup in India next year.
Australian ODI squad: Aaron Finch, Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa
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