Green, Hazlewood managed as Aussies set for 12-year first

Cameron Green will miss Australia's series-opening ODI against Zimbabwe with a sore shoulder, while Josh Hazlewood has also been managed to see Spencer Johnson named for his first ODI in 18 months.

The President's Birthday public holiday was expected to see a sizeable crowd drawn to the Harare Sports Club on a sunny Tuesday as Australia won the toss and elected to bat on what locals say is an unusually grassy surface. Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza suggested he would have bowled first.

Two of the visitors' all-format stars will sit out the contest, Australia's first ODIs in the landlocked African nation since 2014, with their focus firmly on ensuring they are tip-top for next month's three Tests against South Africa. 

Australia XI: Mitch Marsh (c), Travis Head, Cooper Connolly, Josh Inglis (wk), Alex Carey, Matthew Renshaw, Ollie Peake, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson

 

Zimbabwe XI: Brian Bennett, Ben Curran, Innocent Kaia, Brendan Taylor, Craig Ervine, Sikandar Raza (c), Wessly Madhevere, Brad Evans, Newman Nyamhuri, Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani 

Ollie Peake has held his spot after a promising debut tour of the subcontinent earlier this year, while fellow youngster Cooper Connolly has been listed at No.3 after hitting his maiden international ton from the opening spot against Bangladesh in June. Captain Mitch Marsh, playing his 100th ODI, and Travis Head return after missing that tour and will take on the new ball.

Green has been struggling with right shoulder soreness this week. He has batted in the nets in recent days but only had a light bowl on Sunday. The Aussie camp has suggested it is not a serious injury and the allrounder was completing running drills on the outfield before play on Tuesday.

Hazlewood meanwhile was always going to miss at least a few of the forthcoming six ODIs in Zimbabwe and South Africa with selectors making no secret that having him firing for the Test series is the over-arching priority. Likewise for Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, who will arrive for the one-dayers against the Proteas next week.

Johnson returned to the national fold when he played three T20Is against Bangladesh earlier this year but this will mark the left-arm quick's first 50-over matches for Australia since the 2025 Champions Trophy.

Green's absence leaves Australia short on bowling options in the top seven. Connolly's left-arm spin will be required with the allrounder having overcome a back injury that has sidelined him from bowling for the past five months. Peake, Head and Matthew Renshaw can all bowl off-spin.

Harare is not generally a high-scoring ground – the average first-innings score is 231 – while Zimbabwe have been one of the most conservative ODI teams since the 2023 World Cup; no team has had a higher defensive shot percentage (23 per cent) in that time, per Cricviz.

But the hosts have beaten Australia in their last two encounters – at the T20 World Cup earlier this year in Colombo, and also in the third ODI of their 2022 tour of Australia in Townsville – and are confident of more success in the three-game series this week.

"As much as Townsville will remain an inspiration, once you put on the national jersey, then I think you cannot bank on just one game," Raza told reporters on Monday.

"Certainly a lot of belief is going into the boys that playing in front of our home crowd, in our home conditions as well, and also just the excitement of the fact that we are playing the top nation.

"We all know that when we put on the jersey, we want to earn the respect and the seat at the high table for other countries to pay attention to Zimbabwe. That's where the aim is for us.

"The last two games have been very good for us against Australia and we're going into this game with a lot of good memories. But the past results do not play any part into what's to come.

"Australia has been playing a lot of cricket in the recent past as well – they've had a lot of ODI and Test cricket as well, which certainly helps. But playing at home gives us that extra push, and in front of our own fans certainly give us that extra kick that we need, that we can we can achieve something here."

The uncapped Joel Davies and fast bowler Bill Stanlake are the other Australian squad members to miss selection.

Qantas tour of Zimbabwe 2026

All matches broadcast exclusively in Australia on Kayo and Fox Cricket

First ODI: September 15, Harare Sports Club, 5:30pm AEST (9:30am local)

Second ODI: September 18, Harare Sports Club, 5:30pm AEST (9:30am local)

Third ODI: September 20, Harare Sports Club, 5:30pm AEST (9:30am local)

Zimbabwe squad: Sikandar Raza (c), Ben Curran, Blessing Muzarabani, Brad Evans, Brendan Taylor, Brian Bennett, Craig Ervine, Ernest Masuku, Graeme Cremer, Innocent Kaia, Newman Nyamhuri, Ryan Burl, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Wessly Madhevere

Australia squad: 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