Green misses again as pace pair return for third ODI

Cameron Green will miss a third consecutive ODI while Josh Hazlewood has also been managed for the dead-rubber series finale against Zimbabwe in Harare.

Green was completing running drills before play as Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza won the toss and elected to bat first on the same pitch used for the second ODI. The Australian allrounder also had a lengthy hit in the nets on Friday while he was expected to bowl during the innings break.

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

 

Zimbabwe XI: Brian Bennett, Ben Curran, Innocent Kaia, Brendan Taylor (wk), Craig Ervine, Sikandar Raza (c), Wessly Madhevere, Brad Evans, Graeme Cremer, Ernest Masuku, Blessing Muzarabani

With the visitors 2-0 up in the series, the Australian camp insists the 27-year-old only has a sore right shoulder. The injury has now sidelined him from the entire Zimbabwe leg of their African tour, which has next month's Tests against South Africa as its centrepiece.

Zimbabwe meanwhile have selected a fourth 40-plus year old in their XI with Graeme Cremer, who turned 40 on Saturday, replacing Wellington Masakadza, who has picked up a niggle.

It marks Cremer's first ODI in eight years, while Ernest Masuku has replaced Newman Nyamhuri in their pace attack.

Mitch Marsh's side has missed Green's middle-order batting and seam bowling – particularly after Billy Stanlake went down with a side strain during the 84-run win on Friday – but Australia are prioritising his fitness for the three-Test series against the Proteas.

Likewise for Hazlewood, who is being rested here with one eye on that series, despite the fast bowler suggesting he wanted to play the third ODI on Friday. Both Green and Hazlewood are expected to play some part in next week's three one-dayers against the Proteas when Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc will return.

Spencer Johnson and Xavier Bartlett bolster the seam attack for this match, while Nathan Ellis will a play a third straight game as Australia picked the same XI as the one that beat Zimbabwe by 59 runs in the first ODI.

Alex Carey may breathe a sigh of relief given he shaped a potential fall guy if Green returned given Ollie Peake's standout series so far from No.7, hitting 30 off 40 and 40no from 18.

Qantas tour of Zimbabwe 2026

All matches broadcast exclusively in Australia on Kayo and Fox Cricket

First ODI: Australia beat Zimbabwe by 59 runs

Second ODI: Australia beat Zimbabwe by 84 runs

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

Qantas tour of South Africa 2026

All matches to be broadcast exclusively in Australia on Kayo and Fox Cricket

First ODI: September 24, Kingsmead Stadium, Durban, 6pm AEST (10am local)

Second ODI: September 27, Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, 6pm AEST (10am local)

Third ODI: September 30, JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom, 9:30pm AEST (D/N, 1:30pm local)

South Africa ODI squad: Temba Bavuma (c), Ottneil Baartman, Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Bjorn Fortuin, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs

Australia ODI squad: Mitchell Marsh, Pat Cummins, 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, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa

Warm-up match: October 3-4, JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom, 6pm AEST (10am local)

First Test: October 9-13, Kingsmead Stadium, Durban, 6:30pm AEDT (9:30am local)

Second Test: October 18-22, St George's Park, Gqeberha, 7pm AEDT (10am local)

Third Test: October 27-31, Newlands, Cape Town, 7:30pm AEDT (10:30am local)

Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster