Zimbabwe and Australia are set to meet in the first ODI of their three-match series at Harare Sports Club. The two teams have not faced each other in an ODI in Zimbabwe for 12 years, with Mitchell Marsh the only remaining member of Australia’s XI from their previous meeting at the venue.
Australia head into the series with several questions to answer as they use their six-match Africa tour as preparation for their World Cup title defence. They have won only 13 of their last 28 ODIs since the 2023 World Cup and recently suffered series defeats against Pakistan and Bangladesh. The return of Marsh and Travis Head at the top of the order should provide greater stability, while Cooper Connolly will be another player to watch after his 149 against Bangladesh.
Zimbabwe, meanwhile, will be confident after beating Bangladesh in their most recent ODI series. Sikandar Raza’s side have also recalled experienced players such as Brendan Taylor, Ryan Burl and Graeme Cremer as they look to maintain their recent momentum. Blessing Muzarabani and Brad Evans will lead an attack that could pose a significant challenge to Australia’s batting lineup.
ZIM vs AUS, 1st ODI: Match Details
- Date and Time: September 15, 9:30 AM Local / 7:30 AM GMT / 1:00 PM IST
- Venue: Harare Sports Club, Harare
ZIM vs AUS Head-to-Head Record in ODIs
Matches Played: 33 | ZIM Won: 3| AUS Won: 29 | No Result: 1
Harare Sports Club Pitch Report
The surface at Harare Sports Club could make life difficult for batters, particularly during the early stages of the innings. The recent ODI series between Zimbabwe and Bangladesh produced relatively modest scores, with 247 the highest team total across the three matches. There were also only two individual scores above 75, highlighting the challenges faced by the batters.
The new ball could move around and offer enough assistance to bowlers who maintain a disciplined line and length. Batters may therefore need to spend some time at the crease before looking to attack. However, the pitch can become easier to bat on once the initial movement wears off.
The toss could therefore have a significant impact, with both teams likely to prefer bowling first and making the most of the early conditions. A first-innings score around 230-245 could prove competitive, although a well-set batting lineup may be capable of pushing the total beyond 250.
Squads
Zimbabwe: 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: 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
Also READ: Graeme Cremer returns as Zimbabwe name Sikandar Raza-led squad for ODI series against Australia
ZIM vs AUS, 1st ODI: Today’s Match Prediction
Case 1:
- AUS wins the toss and bowls first
- ZIM’s powerplay score: 40-45
- ZIM’s total score: 220-240
Case 2:
- ZIM wins the toss and bowls first
- AUS’s powerplay score: 50-55
- AUS’s total score: 270-290
Match Result: Team bowling first to win the match.
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