Australia Men’s Head Coach Andrew McDonald has discussed how he manages the workload of pace bowlers Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc, especially as they prepare for a busy year leading to the 2027 Cricket World Cup.
The trio will not be part of Australia’s upcoming tour of Pakistan starting May 30. They joined their respective teams late for the 2026 IPL, as Cricket Australia aimed to manage their workloads. McDonald emphasized that he expects them to be ready for the 2027 World Cup, which requires careful attention to their fitness.
“People often focus on the immediate games and wonder why they aren’t playing. But if you consider what’s ahead, this is the last major break we have to prepare them for 2027. We plan for their participation in 2027,” McDonald told reporters before the squad’s departure for Pakistan, as reported by Cricbuzz.
“We need to build trust in our approach. It will be a significant challenge, particularly for our sports science and medical team, who have been doing a great job over time,” he added.
McDonald rejected the notion that players choose which series to skip, explaining these decisions are made collaboratively with the management team. He noted this was done in 2023 as well.
“There’s a misconception that players pick and choose where they play. These decisions take into account the entire schedule, and it’s not something they decide alone. We work with them; they want to play but we feel it’s not the right time,” McDonald said.
He acknowledged that managing the trio has become more challenging as they age, with Starc, Cummins, and Hazlewood currently aged 36, 33, and 35, respectively.
“If we can keep them fit and healthy, we’re in a good position. The challenge is managing their participation, especially as fast bowlers. With age, we face new management challenges, and while many of them have been strong, some have had recent injuries,” he commented.
Cummins, who also leads the ODI team, has missed recent matches due to a back stress issue. Mitchell Marsh has stepped in during his absence and will do so for the Pakistan series as well. McDonald noted that they have a good working relationship.
“They work well together. Pat is involved with the one-day team, and we chose not to play him to protect his body. His recent back injury surprised us; it was unexpected based on his load, so we need to manage him carefully,” he explained.
Australia will play three ODIs in Pakistan as they begin their journey to defend their title in the 2027 Cricket World Cup. The series runs from May 30 to June 4, starting in Rawalpindi and concluding in Lahore.