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The Australian national cricket team is planning big for the ICC World Cup 2027, and they have made their intentions very clear regarding their fast bowling trio of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood. Despite injury concerns and a heavy workload, Australia want this pace trio to lead their title defence.
India still face questions over the ODI future of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, but Australia are sticking to their experienced core as the focus now turns to the ICC World Cup 2027.
Andrew McDonald confirms long-term plans for Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood
Australia head coach Andrew McDonald has now confirmed they are making a long-term plan. Even though Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood have had fitness problems in recent times, the team management believes that a smart rest and workload plan will keep them ready for the big tournament.
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Cricket.com.au quoted Andrew McDonald as saying, “I think people look at the impromptu games and say, ‘Well, why aren’t they playing there?’ But if you really work from 2027 and look at what we’re coming up with, this is the last significant opportunity that we get to invest in their bodies to prepare themselves to get to 2027.
He added, “We are planning for them to be there in 2027. I think they need to have a lot of trust in what we are doing to be able to get them there. It’s going to be a significant challenge, especially for our fantastic (sports science and medicine) team; they have done a great job over time.”
Andrew McDonald slams ‘misconception’ on pace trio staying out of IPL 2026
Pat Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood were heavily criticized for skipping the upcoming Australia and Bangladesh tour to play in IPL 2026, but the head coach dismissed the misconception.
Next year is going to be very difficult for Australia. He is expected to play around 20 Test matches, which includes home matches against Bangladesh and New Zealand and the 150th anniversary match at the MCG, along with big tours to India, England and South Africa.
If they qualify, the WTC Final could be another important game. With such a busy calendar, Australia may not want to stretch their star fast bowlers in every series. Because of this, Australia decided to rest their main bowlers Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood for the upcoming white-ball tours of Pakistan and Bangladesh to save them for the bigger tournaments.
They have been in good form in the ongoing IPL 2026, and Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood will also play in the playoffs before heading back home. After the IPL, they will get a significant break in June and July, which the team sees as an important recovery phase before the busy international season.
‘They don’t choose it’
McDonald believes this is the last proper window to manage the fitness of his senior bowlers before the 2027 ICC World Cup, adding that keeping them fresh is the top priority now.
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He explained, “I think it’s almost a misconception that players are kind of choosing where they play and what series they play in. These decisions are made based on the management of what’s going to happen within the program – and they don’t choose it. We work with them on that… Those players want to play. We don’t feel like this is the best time for them to play.”
Fitness management has become the biggest challenge for Australia
The Australian head coach has stressed that he had managed a similar situation in 2023, but the big difference now is that the team is four years older and fitness will be the main challenge going forward.
McDonald signed off by saying, “I think if we’re fit and healthy we’re in a good position. And that’s going to be the biggest challenge. How do we prepare the players for that demand? How do we manage them, especially our fast bowlers? We’re getting older, so it’s going to create some different management challenges.”
