Big picture: World Cup scouting high on the agenda

It has been 12 years since Australia have faced Zimbabwe in an ODI in Zimbabwe with the visiting captain Mitchell Marsh the only remaining member of their XI that day while Sikandar Raza and the recalled Brendan Taylor were part of Zimbabwe's triumphant side.

The two teams meet again but it seems at cross-purposes. Australia are using the next six games in Africa as a reconnaissance mission 12 months out from their World Cup title defence. Zimbabwe, who did not qualify for the last ODI World Cup, are keen on upsetting Australia again as they did at the T20 World Cup earlier this year and in 2022 when the two teams last met in an ODI series in Australia.

Both sides are missing their captains and key pace options: Richard Ngarava and Tanaka Chivanga through injury while Pat Cummins is being rested ahead of the ODIs and Tests in South Africa which follow this three-match series. Mitchell Starc has also been left at home for the same reasons.

Australia have won just 13 of their last 28 ODIs since the last World Cup including recent series defeats in Pakistan and Bangladesh. Zimbabwe beat the same Bangladesh team that took down Australia 2-1 in their most recent ODI series in July.

The recalls of veterans in Taylor, Ryan Burl, who took 5 for 10 in Zimbabwe's 2022 ODI win in Townsville and played a key all-round role in the T20 World Cup win earlier in the year, and Graeme Cremer for the first time in eight years suggest Zimbabwe are keen on keeping the winning momentum going for the here and now rather than looking 12 months ahead or even beyond. Their well-balanced attack, led by Blessing Muzarabani and Brad Evans, will almost certainly trouble an Australian batting unit that has been malfunctioning across all formats for some time.

The return of Marsh and Travis Head to the top of the order will shore up the foundations but how the rest of the order shakes out remains to be seen. Cooper Connolly will be forced to slide despite making a brilliant 149 in his last ODI innings as an opener.

Australia are wary of the 9.30am starts in Harare and the likelihood of lively new-ball pitches in the World Cup next year. They had long set Marnus Labuschagne to be a firewall at No. 3 as a replacement for Steven Smith to bat around their top-order power and provide a foundation for the team to back-end innings for when batting gets easier. But his omission on form creates uncertainty about who can fill that role.

Likewise, the retirement of Glenn Maxwell has robbed Australia of power in the lower-order. Josh Inglis and Cameron Green could both bat at No. 3, but the need for their power in the last 20 overs might see them held back in the middle-order.

Meanwhile, Nathan Ellis and Xavier Bartlett will be auditioning for the fourth seamer spot should Australia's big three be fit for the World Cup next year. Left-arm spinner Joel Davies may also get an opportunity as a spinning allrounder at some stage in the series after debuting impressively in the T20Is in Bangladesh.

Form guide

Zimbabwe LWWLL (last five ODIs, most recent first)
Australia WLLLW

In the spotlight: Blessing Muzarabani and Cooper Connolly

Blessing Muzarabani looms as Australia's biggest threat coming into the series. His 4 for 17 in Colombo was instrumental in Zimbabwe beating Australia in the T20 World Cup earlier this year and he has been the tone-setter in Zimbabwe's last two ODI series wins against Ireland and Bangladesh. He will need to stand up in the absence of the injured Ngarava but his pace and bounce, as well as his ability to shape the new ball given the early starts in Harare will prove a handful for Australia's batting line-up that has really struggled in recent times.

There are few Australian players with more to gain in this series than Cooper Connolly. His stunning 149 against Bangladesh in their last ODI has opened all manner of possibilities for him from locking down a spot in Australia's first-choice side for the World Cup next year to forcing his way into the Test team for the South Africa tour after being added to the touring party. However, he scored his maiden ODI century while opening the batting Mirpur but the return of Marsh and Head will mean he will need to slide down the order. There is a possibility he could land at No. 3 given Australia's want to solve a malfunctioning middle-order with some more experienced players however he could also be trialed in a finishing role given the power he possesses.

Team news: Veterans return for hosts; Head and Marsh reunited

Despite winning their most recent ODI series against Bangladesh, Zimbabwe have made changes. The recalls of Taylor and Burl after absences from the ODI set-up are intriguing and both could play given their experience. Taylor or Tadiwanashe Marumani will replace Clive Madande behind the stumps and in the middle-order. Burl has been a major part of their last two white-ball wins against Australia in 2022 and 2026 however spinning allrounder Wessly Madhevere did make 75 in his last ODI innings.
Zimbabwe: (possible) 1 Brian Bennett, 2 Ben Curran, 3 Innocent Kaia, 4 Craig Ervine, 5 Brendan Taylor/Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk), 6 Sikandar Raza (capt), 7 Wessly Madhevere/Ryan Burl, 8 Brad Evans, 9 Wellington Masakadza/Graeme Cremer, 10 Newman Nyamhuri, 11 Blessing Muzarabani

Australia are getting closer to their best XI but will still be missing Cummins and Starc. Marsh and Head return at the top after missing the last two series and it will force Connolly down the order.

Australia: 1 Travis Head, 2 Mitchell Marsh (capt), 3 Cooper Connolly, 4 Josh Inglis (wk), 5 Cameron Green, 6 Matt Renshaw, 7 Alex Carey/Ollie Peake, 8 Xavier Bartlett, 9 Nathan Ellis, 10 Adam Zampa, 11 Josh Hazlewood

Pitch and conditions: Batting could be challenging

Very few batters prospered in the recent series between Zimbabwe and Bangladesh with 247 the highest team score in three games while there were only two individual scores above 75 and one century scored by Ben Curran but he struck at 78.44 for the series. The seamers dominated for the most part and could do so again in this series with both sides likely to want to bowl first given the early starts. However, Zimbabwe did successfully defend 141 and 247 in the first two games of the series.

Stats and trivia

• Zimbabwe has four players, Sikandar Raza, Craig Ervine, Brendan Taylor and Graeme Cremer, who will be 40 or older by the third match of the series.

• Australia have only lost three ODIs to Zimbabwe and two have come in the last four matches. The other was in 1983.

• Marsh is set to play his 100th ODI in game one, he has played five in Zimbabwe averaging 55.50

Quotes

"They've had the wood over us more recently at the T20 World Cup. So excited to not only try and get a little bit of redemption, but also start building towards the one-day World Cup in a year or so."
Nathan Ellis