Head, Hazlewood Return to Bolster Australia for South Africa Series

Travis Head and Josh Hazlewood are set to rejoin the Australian limited-overs squads for the upcoming home series against South Africa. Their return marks a significant boost for the team as they prepare for a busy season.

Head and Hazlewood missed the recently concluded tour of West Indies © Getty

Head and Hazlewood were notably absent from the recent five-match T20I series in the West Indies, where Australia secured a clean sweep victory of 5-0.

Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins will continue to be rested, following their absence from the West Indies series. This decision aims to manage their workload effectively ahead of a demanding home season. In Cummins's absence, Mitchell Marsh will continue to captain the ODI side against South Africa.

With Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell's recent retirements leaving gaps in the ODI middle order, Mitchell Owen has received his first-ever call-up to the 50-overs squad. Cameron Green, who recently made his return, also secures a spot in the team. Despite losing his place in the Test XI, Marnus Labuschagne maintains his position in the ODI squad. Matthew Short, having recovered from a minor side strain, has been selected for both the T20I and ODI squads.

Following the return of Xavier Bartlett and Lance Morris, Sean Abbott, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Tanveer Sangha, Cooper Connolly, and Aaron Hardie were not selected for the ODI squad. With the T20 squad reduced to 14 members, Fraser-McGurk, Hardie, Connolly, and Bartlett were omitted to accommodate Head and Hazlewood.

"The smaller squad for a home series, along with the return of Travis Head and Josh Hazlewood, see some players not part of the squad for this Top End series, but all remain in the frame moving forward and we feel the entire group embraced every opportunity," said Chair of Selectors George Bailey.

"We expect that to continue through this series, and the New Zealand and Indian series later this year, as we balance continued opportunities for players and the preparation for the Test summer."

The series is set to begin on August 10, with the first two T20Is taking place in Darwin. The final T20I and the first ODI will be held in Cairns, before the tour concludes in Mackay with two additional ODIs.

Squads:

T20 Squad: Mitchell Marsh (c), Sean Abbott, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matt Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Owen, Matthew Short, Adam Zampa

ODI Squad: Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Lance Morris, Mitchell Owen, Matthew Short, Adam Zampa