AUS vs ENG 2018: Australia to rest pacers in first two ODIs

The ODI series starts from January 14.

The Australian pace trio did a fabulous job in the Ashes. (Getty)

After frontline Australian pacers did the majority of the hard work in the Test series, the selectors have decided to rest them in the first two ODIs against England in the upcoming ODIs. 

Josh Hazlewood has been rested from the first Gillette ODI against England and Pat Cummins will skip the second game of the series as Australia look to manage their fast bowlers ahead of the Test tour of South Africa.

Hazlewood's absence from Sunday's series opener means one or both of Andrew Tye and Jhye Richardson will make their ODI debut at the MCG. Hazlewood will re-join the squad for the second game in Brisbane, which Cummins will miss.

Speaking last week, Cummins said he was expecting to be rested from some cricket in the coming weeks.

"They're going to reassess after this game (the fifth Test in Sydney). There was a bit of chat we might rest from one or two," Cummins told reporters.

"We've got a bit of a break before the ODIs start.

"I don't know yet. It takes a little bit to get over each Test but once you're over a Test, you're ready to start bowling and 10 overs in an ODI is a bit easier than a Test."

The idea of resting the pacers on rotation is actually to keep them fresh for the next tour against South Africa. 

 
 

By Anshuman Roy - 11 Jan, 2018

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