<
>

Adam Zampa returns, Pat Cummins rested for ODIs against Zimbabwe, New Zealand

Pat Cummins struck at regular intervals AFP

Legspinner Adam Zampa will be returning from paternity leave for Australia's back-to-back ODI series against Zimbabwe and New Zealand in late August and early September, while Test captain Pat Cummins will be rested from both ahead of a monster home summer.

Australia face Zimbabwe in a three-match ODI series on August 28, 31 and September 3, with all three games to be played at the Riverway Stadium in Townsville. That will be followed by three ODIs against New Zealand on September 6, 8, and 11 at the Cazalys Stadium in Cairns.

Zampa missed the entire Sri Lanka tour due to the birth of his first child, and returns to bolster Australia's spin ranks. Ashton Agar will also be back after a side strain that kept him out of the last four ODIs in Sri Lanka.

Cummins played four of the five ODIs in Sri Lanka after resting from the T20I series. But Australia's national selection panel made the decision to rest him from the upcoming series against Zimbabwe and New Zealand in order for him to freshen up ahead of a home T20 World Cup and a huge Test summer that comprises five home Tests against West Indies and South Africa, before a four-Test trip to India early next year.

Travis Head will also miss both ODI series as he is expecting the birth of his first child during that period.

Sean Abbott returns to the ODI squad in place of Cummins after missing the entire tour of Sri Lanka due a broken finger he suffered in the nets in Colombo on the eve of the opening T20I.

Marcus Stoinis will also be back after a side strain that saw him fly home from Sri Lanka early. Australia have named a trimmed-down squad of 14 for the six ODIs against Zimbabwe and New Zealand, with Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Kuhnemann, Josh Inglis and Jhye Richardson all dropping out of the group that played in Sri Lanka.

The timing of the series has ramifications for four Hundred squads, with Glenn Maxwell (London Spirit), Zampa (Welsh Fire), Stoinis (Southern Brave), and Abbott (Manchester Originals) all set to be unavailable for the back end of the tournament as they are likely to return to Australia a week out from the first ODI on August 28.

Meanwhile, bowling coach Daniel Vettori will be staying at the Hundred as coach of Birmingham Phoenix, thus missing both of Australia's assignments.