Australia have a six-match ODI tour of Zimbabwe and South Africa that runs from September 15 to 30 ahead of a three-Test series in South Africa that starts on October 9, with a two-day warm-up game scheduled for October 3 in Potchefstroom, the same venue that will host the final ODI four days earlier.
“It’s always a really difficult thing to take an opportunity for someone to play international cricket away from them,” Bailey said. “But we certainly acknowledge that that’s a really key series for us, that A series. We’re pretty excited about the group that we’re putting together for that and the opportunity over there.
“We’re lucky enough to have a couple of repeat entries into India, so some guys are starting to get some good levels of experience over there. Hopefully when they do get their opportunities to tour there with the national team, that’ll hold them in really good stead.
“For [Connolly] and a couple of others that will be a debate – and not trying to get too cute with it – but whether there are some that can come across and play some of the white-ball series potentially in Zimbabwe and South Africa, and then join for part of the [India A] series. For some, potentially the India series will be prioritised.”
Renshaw, meanwhile, has embedded himself in Australia’s ODI team as a middle-order player but has also toured India twice with the Test side in 2017 and 2023 where he played six of his 14 Tests to-date. His experience and skill against spin on the subcontinent makes him a prime candidate to be recalled to the Test side again for a third tour, but whether he needs to go on an A tour given his experience might be viewed as less of a priority for the selectors.
“It’s actually been really fun to think about and work through to make sure that we strike the right balance where guys are continuing to build out their international experience, but also getting the opportunity to make sure they do get a bit of a look at some foreign conditions,” Bailey said.
“Particularly for those ones that are in the mix for touring India in January and February for that that Test series, there’s certainly half an eye on that as well.”
However, it is understood that the selectors are wary of compromising his preparation for what is likely be extremely seam-friendly conditions in South Africa in early October if he were to play in India in the lead-up.
