Skipper Pat Cummins said he "can't wait" to play in Australia's first Test series in South Africa since the infamous "Sandpapergate" affair and he intends to use one-day games beforehand to prepare.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The next assignment for Australia after drawing a two-Test series against Bangladesh are three ODIs in Zimbabwe and another three in South Africa in late September.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
They then play Tests in Durban, Gqeberha and Cape Town in October.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Cummins indicated he could miss the Zimbabwe leg, but would make himself available for some of the South Africa white-ball games.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
It is likely to be a similar scenario for fellow quicks Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I'm not sure I should say this, but I think the focus is on the Test series," said Cummins after their innings and 51-run thrashing of Bangladesh in Mackay on Sunday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"So a lot of the white-ball (series), and how we play that, would be with an eye to the red ball.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"So I'd imagine it'd be one, two, probably a maximum of three games out of those six."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Cummins, who remains Australia's official ODI captain, has played just two from a possible 28 matches in the format since the 2023 World Cup.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Hazlewood told reporters in Mackay he too expected to play some of the 50-over series while Starc said he would "do what he's told".<\/p>\r\n\r\n
All three have prioritised Tests over limited-overs cricket in recent years.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Tests in South Africa will be Australia's first in the country since a 2018 ball-tampering scandal rocked the sport.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Steve Smith was banned for a year and sacked as captain after conspiring to alter the ball using sandpaper during the third Test in Cape Town, while David Warner was suspended for 12 months.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Cummins called the series "big" with revenge on his mind after Australia lost the World Test Championship final to the Proteas at Lord's last year.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"We had a big series against them a couple of years ago in Australia (in 2022-23) and we probably exceeded expectations and played really well," said Cummins of their 2-0 series win.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"They got us back at Lord's last year and outplayed us. So it's going to be big in their home conditions and places we have haven't played for quite a while.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Even the difference between Durban to, say, Cape Town can be quite different styles of pitches.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"That's why I love playing Test cricket. It's all different conditions, different opponents, different parts of the world. Can't wait."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Only Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood, Smith, Nathan Lyon, and Matt Renshaw have played Test cricket in South Africa.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Opener Renshaw is likely to hold his place despite a tepid return in Mackay after three years away, with the big question whether Marnus Labuschagne should be on the plane.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The number three made just 36 runs in three knocks against Bangladesh and has not scored a century since 2023.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I did say a couple of days ago -– and I think it still stands -– that he's been batting fantastically well off the field," said Cummins. "But it doesn't mean much. You've got to convert that into runs out there."<\/p>\r\n", "image": "https:\/\/img.cricketnmore.com\/uploads\/2026\/08\/pat-cummins-australia-south-africa.jpeg", "alt_img": "Pat Cummins Australia-South Africa", "alt_title": "Pat Cummins Excited for Australias South Africa Test Return After Sandpapergate", "image1": null, "video": null, "seo_title": "Pat Cummins Excited for Australia's South Africa Test Return After Sandpapergate On Cricketnmore", "seo_desc": "Pat Cummins says he \"can't wait\" for Australia's Test return to South Africa, with ODIs set to serve as preparation for the October series.", "seo_keywords": "Pat Cummins, Australia Vs South Africa, Australia Test Cricket, Sandpapergate, South Africa Test Series, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood", "tag": null, "tagging": "Pat Cummins,Australia Vs South Africa,Australia Test Cricket,South Africa Test Series,Mitchell Starc,Josh Hazlewood", "status": "1", "img_rpt": "0", "google": "1", "standout": "0", "edapps": "0", "pulse": "0", "no_index": "0", "feed": "0", "fixture": null, "slug": "pat-cummins-excited-for-australias-south-africa-test-return-after-sandpapergate", "user_id": "0", "read_count": "1", "ians_date": null, "ians_time": null, "server_time": null, "trash": "0", "view_count": "26", "page_break": "0", "instant_articles": "1", "auto_link": "1", "created": "2026-08-24 08:37:58", "updated": "2026-08-24 08:37:58", "img_from": "Image Source: Google", "img_source": null, "schedule_publish": null, "news_keywords": "Pat Cummins, Australia Vs South Africa, Australia Test Cricket, Sandpapergate, South Africa Test Series, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood", "livescore_text": null, "livescore_link": null, "btn_text": null, "resend_feed": "0", "google_feed": "0", "read_more": "1", "posted_by": "1", "jio_date": "2026-08-24 08:37:58", "scheduled": "0", "news_now": "1", "breaking_news": "1", "google_date": null, "featured": "0", "pred_match_id": "Select", "article_content_type": "Latest Cricket News", "england_cricket": "0", "link": "https:\/\/www.cricketnmore.com\/cricket-news\/pat-cummins-excited-for-australias-south-africa-test-return-after-sandpapergate-202715" }