Adam Zampa returns to the Australian side following the birth of his first child for tomorrow's first ODI against Zimbabwe, with Steve Smith and Mitchell Starc also back from injury
Big guns return for Zimbabwe ODI series opener
Australia have made it clear they mean business in the Dettol ODI Series against Zimbabwe, with several big names returning to the side for the opening match in Townsville on Sunday.
Captain Aaron Finch confirmed an almost full-strength side today, with the hosts welcoming back a host of players absent from the final match in Sri Lanka in June, including Adam Zampa who missed the tour due to the birth of his first child, Eugene.
Australia XI for first ODI: Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Steve Smith, Alex Carey (wk), Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
Steve Smith, Marcus Stoinis and Mitchell Starc are the other key inclusions from their most recent outing, with Pat Cummins rested and Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis and Matthew Kuhnemann making way.
Finch also confirmed a shake-up of Australia's ODI batting line-up with wicketkeeper Alex Carey elevated to No.4, Smith filling the No.3 position and Mitch Marsh sliding from three to six.
Finch said Labuschagne's omission was down to a new structure they want to test out that provides greater batting depth and more bowling options.
"The reasoning behind Marnus (missing out) is we're just going with an allrounder-heavy side," Finch told reporters on Saturday.
"Two quicks plus Zampa and Cameron Green as the fourth genuine bowler. And then using Marsh, Stoinis, Maxwell as our fifth bowler effectively.
"It's a way of lengthening our batting, and I think it's important we keep trying to juggle the structure of the team around a bit over the next little while.
"We don't want to get pigeonholed into playing in one particular structure of team."
Among the structural tweaks are Smith returning to the No.3 position, a move that Finch labelled a "no-brainer", and Carey coming up to No.4.
"(Carey's) versatility is really important," Finch said.
"What we've seen with how Zimbabwe structure up is they go spin-heavy through the middle overs so we feel like that's a real strength of Alex's.
"To be able to have the power of Stoinis, Marsh, Maxwell and Green at five, six, seven and eight is really important as well.
"And we feel like that gives us the freedom as a batting group to be aggressive as well."
Zimbabwe, who haven't faced Australia in this format since 2014, won't be at full strength with injuries to key players including captain Craig Ervine, opening bowler Tendai Chatara and spinner Wellington Masakadza.
However, allrounder Sikandar Raza has been in the form of his life, hitting two centuries against Bangladesh and one against India in the last month.
Finch said there had been extra time spent on preparing to face Raza, who has scored 615 one-day international runs this calendar year, the fourth highest of players from Test playing nations.
"He's been in great nick, particularly in his last 15 games, he's got a few hundreds there," Finch said.
"He's probably the real strength of their middle order. He's been the really consistent one who's played really well and (then) throw in his off-spin as well.
"There's plenty of plans there. We feel like our pace and our spin group have all the resources available."
While Zimbabwe stand-in captain Regis Chakabva wouldn't give any hints on his side's playing XI on Saturday, he predicted the slower bowlers would play an important part in Sunday's clash.
"Practicing in the nets yesterday, the wickets did a little bit for the spinners so it will be interesting to see what the wickets in the middle will do," he said.
"Spin can be a big part of our set up."
Tomorrow's match will be the first of 17 one-day internationals for Australia before the 2023 ODI World Cup in India in October-November next year while Zimbabwe have 15 before the 50-over showpiece event.
Men's Dettol ODI Series v Zimbabwe
Sunday Aug 28: Riverway Stadium, Townsville, 9:40am
Wednesday Aug 31: Riverway Stadium, Townsville, 9:40am
Saturday Sep 3: Riverway Stadium, Townsville, 9:40am
Australia squad: Aaron Finch, Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa.
Zimbabwe squad: Ryan Burl, Regis Chakabva (c), Bradley Evans, Luke Jongwe, Innocent Kaia, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Clive Madande, Wessly Madhevere, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Tony Munyonga, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Victor Nyauchi, Sikandar Raza, Sean Williams.
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