Last Updated on 4 seconds ago by Charbel Coorey
Australia will play their first One Day International (ODI) in Zimbabwe since 2014 on Tuesday when the two teams lock horns in the first of three matches.
The Australians are looking to rediscover their best form in ODIs following a series defeat in Bangladesh earlier this year. It won’t be an easy task against Zimbabwe who have enjoyed success against the Aussies in recent years, including victory in the last ODI between the teams in Townsville in 2022.
The Zimbabweans also knocked off Australia in this year’s T20 World Cup.
Australia possible XI for the ODI series opener against Zimbabwe on September 15
1. Travis Head, 2. Mitchell Marsh (c), 3. Cooper Connolly, 4. Cameron Green, 5. Josh Inglis, 6. Alex Carey (wk), 7. Oliver Peake/Matt Renshaw, 8. Nathan Ellis, 9. Josh Hazlewood, 10. Adam Zampa, 11. Spencer Johnson
Mitchell Marsh will captain the team with Pat Cummins available only for the South Africa ODIs. He and Travis Head are likely to reunite at the top of the order.
This creates an interesting conundrum as to where Cooper Connolly bats. The 23-year-old struck an impressive 149 as opener in his last ODI against Bangladesh in June, but Cameron Green, Matt Renshaw and Josh Inglis are all capable of batting in the top order along with Marsh and Head.
Another question for Australia is the finishers’ slot post-Glenn Maxwell. They have tried numerous players at number six and seven in recent ODIs, with Green batting down the order on occasion. The all-rounder could bat down the order again with a potential choice between Ollie Peake and Matt Renshaw for the final spot, if both Josh Inglis and Alex Carey are selected.
“The hard thing through the middle-order in one-day cricket is that there’s not really a specific role,” said selection chair George Bailey, as quoted by cricket.com.au. “You can be in at two or three for not many, or you can be in at two or three for plenty, and you’re trying to ice the cake or ice a chase.
“So that ability to be flexible or adapt your game as to what’s playing out in front of you is really important. I think we’ve got a number of players that have done that and will continue to emerge to do that.
“Then as we get closer to a World Cup, you start to really refine that and bed that down.”
On the bowling front, the experienced Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Ellis could start the series, with a choice between Spencer Johnson, Xavier Bartlett and Billy Stanlake for the final spot. Green offers another seam-bowling option with Adam Zampa, Connolly and Renshaw (if picked) the spinners.
All three ODIs will start at 9:30am local time. Traditionally, teams opt to bowl first to take advantage of early morning movement in Harare.
Australia squad for Zimbabwe ODIs: Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Joel Davies, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Oliver Peake, Matthew Renshaw, Billy Stanlake, Adam Zampa
