Australia and England are set to clash out with each other once again in a five-match One Day International series after the conclusion of the Ashes series. Both teams will also play a T20I tri-series involving New Zealand after the One Day series, starting with the first ODI at The MCG on 14 January.

With the series, the Kangaroos will be hung on a hectic schedule as the Steve Smith –led Australian side is scheduled to tour South Africa for a four-Test series starting March 1, and due to which the national selectors want to rest their premier pacers for the grueling tour of Rainbow Nation.

It is learned that Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Pat Cummins are unlikely to feature in the ODI series against England. Australian selectors especially want to rest Cummins, who had missed Test cricket for as many as six years due to injuries, as he featured in all five Ashes 2017-18 Tests along with Hazlewood apart from Starc, who missed the fourth Test with injury.

As per cricket.com.au, Cummins said, “They’re going to reassess after this game. There was a bit of chat we might rest from one or two. 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.”

To ensure that the pacers get enough rest, Australia has already named Andrew Tye and Jhye Richardson in the ODI squad against England.