The Australian pacer Pat Cummins is set to miss the side’s upcoming white-ball series against South Africa, which is set to begin in August.

The decision comes after the 32-year-old is looking to focus on his preparations for the upcoming Ashes series.

He has been rested for the five-match T20I series in Australia’s tour of the West Indies, along with Mitchell Starc and Travis Head, as he focuses on maintaining his fitness. He is also looking to be included in the three-game T20I series against New Zealand in October 2025.

“I’ll have a good training block for the next couple of months, six weeks or so. Probably not bowling, but lots of gym work. (My) body feels pretty good, but there’s always little bits and pieces you’re always trying to get right and then build up for the summer.”

“So it’ll probably look like white-ball (cricket)…we’ve got some (matches against) New Zealand, India, potentially a Shield game and then into the home summer,” said Pat Cummins.

It is interesting to note that the early stages of next season’s Sheffield Shield could prove to be key in Australia’s preparations for the Ashes series.

Meanwhile, Sam Konstas and Usman Khawaja will look to put in a good showing in the upcoming matches.

Pat Cummins remains Australia’s ODI captain but has only led them twice in the format since 2023 World Cup final.

However, he missed the Champions Trophy earlier this year due to an ankle problem he managed during the Test series against India.

“(My) body feels pretty good, but there’s always little bits and pieces you’re always trying to get right and then build up for the summer,” told Pat Cummins.

The early stages of the Sheffield Shield are shaping as Key for Australia’s Ashes plans amid the continued search for a settled top order.

Sam Konstas will have two more innings to make a mark in the West Indies and Usman Khawaja two more to settle the talk around his form.

“There’s a lot of Shield cricket to come and some Aussie A stuff as well,” Cummins said.

“I think (if) you do well at Test level, any time it’s going to kind of make your case more compelling. I think there’s a bit of a connection to the summer, but it feels a long way away at the moment.”

Meanwhile Xavier Bartlett and Jake Fraser-McGurk who are part of the San Francisco Unicorns in the MLC 2025 have been called in as late replacements.

Australia Cricket team are current playing a red-ball cricket against West Indies, and the T20I leg is set to begin on July 20 in Jamaica.