Australia fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has outlined a plan to play as much white-ball cricket as possible across upcoming tours of Zimbabwe and South Africa, using the ODI fixtures as a platform to maintain bowling intensity ahead of the October Test series in South Africa. The 33-year-old made a strong return to Test cricket against Bangladesh and is keen to carry that momentum into the red-ball campaign.

The Workload Plan

Hazlewood is expected to be named in Australia's ODI squads for both the Zimbabwe and South Africa tours, with announcements due on Tuesday. He has identified playing approximately two matches in each three-game series as the optimal way to stay match-ready without overextending himself.

'I think still the best way forward for me is to play as much as I can (within) reason. We've got two ODI series before that Test match series, so it might be playing two out of three in both of those. I think once you're at that intensity, which we're all at now, (it) is trying to maintain that as best we can,' Hazlewood said at the launch of Play Cricket Week in Sydney.

Bangladesh Return and Physical Condition

Hazlewood's return against Bangladesh marked his first Test appearance in more than a year. He claimed seven wickets in the first Test in Darwin before adding one wicket in the quickfire two-day Test in Mackay. The workload, following roughly 10 weeks of intensive preparation, left him encouraged about his physical state.

'I'm very pleased with where I'm at physically. (I've) done a lot of work, probably the 10 weeks leading into that series; it was probably our last big training block before what's to come. Very pleased to come out the other side pretty much unscathed,' he added.

Cummins, Australia A and Selection Complexity

Australia's white-ball plans are expected to vary across the two tours. ODI captain Pat Cummins is likely to feature only in the South Africa leg, not the Zimbabwe fixtures. Selection decisions will also be shaped by Australia's concurrent Australia A red-ball tour of India, as the national setup begins preparations for the five-match Border-Gavaskar series scheduled for January and February.

Rabada Fitness and the South Africa Test Picture

The Test squad for South Africa is expected to be named early next week. One significant subplot is the fitness of South Africa pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada, who is in a race against time to recover from a hamstring injury after being ruled out of the ODI series.

Hazlewood acknowledged uncertainty around the extent of Rabada's setback but was measured in his assessment. 'We don't know exactly how bad the hamstring is. He seems to recover from any sort of niggle pretty quickly. He's an unbelievable athlete. So I guess we don't think about it too much this far out. Things will become clearer as we get closer. But I'm sure the batters would rather face someone else than KG,' he said.

Neser Ahead of Schedule in Calf Rehab

Fellow pace bowler Michael Neser, who sustained a calf injury during training ahead of the Bangladesh series, says he is progressing ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation. Neser, who recently signed a new two-year BBL deal with Brisbane Heat, has not ruled out featuring in the South Africa tour.

'South Africa is still on the cards and still what I'm aiming for. Obviously, it hasn't been picked yet, but if all goes well with rehab and everything, I'll be fit and ready for that,' Neser said. His return would give selectors additional pace depth alongside Hazlewood, Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Scott Boland. With the South Africa Test squad announcement imminent, Australia's pace resources and their management will be closely watched.