After captain Steve Smith controversially returned home following the second ODI of the current series in Sri Lanka, the selectors have decided to rest their leading pacemen ahead of a busy Australian summer which includes six Test matches against South Africa and Pakistan.
Australia will also play an ODI series against New Zealand and Pakistan, and a Twenty20 International series against Sri Lanka before a crux tour of India in February 2017.
Hazlewood returns to Australia on Friday (September 2) and will miss the remainder of the Sri Lankan tour, including the final ODI and a pair of T20Is. Starc will remain in Sri Lanka but then has a month off to prepare for the Australian summer.
Rod Marsh, Australian chief selector, said the quicks have had a 'heavy workload'.
"As such, it is important they are managed appropriately and we believe missing the tour of South Africa is the right time for them to take a break," Marsh said. "This also provides a good opportunity for some of our up-and-coming fast bowlers to push for selection.
"With a number of bowlers currently coming back from injury it is important for us to continue to build up a battery of quality fast bowlers for Australia," he added.
A number of Australian quicks have been sidelined with injury including Peter Siddle, James Pattinson, Pat Cummins and, most recently, Nathan Coulter-Nile. Contenders for the tour of South Africa could include Victoria's Chris Tremain and South Australia's Kane Richardson.The tour starts with an ODI against Ireland on September 27 and will be followed by five ODIs against the hosts.
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