By Sports Correspondent
Australia have named a strong 17-member One-Day International squad for their upcoming tours of Zimbabwe and South Africa as the reigning world champions step up preparations for the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
Australia’s first ODI against Zimbabwe is scheduled for September 15 at Harare Sports Club, followed by matches on September 18 and 20 at the same venue.
The series will mark Australia’s return to Zimbabwe for a three-match ODI series after more than a decade. The matches are expected to provide Zimbabwe with an important opportunity to test themselves against one of the world’s leading 50-over sides ahead of the 2027 World Cup.
Australia will then face South Africa in Durban on September 24, Johannesburg on September 27 and Potchefstroom on September 30.
The six-match tour is particularly significant because the 2027 World Cup will be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, giving Australia an opportunity to assess players in conditions similar to those they will encounter at the tournament.
Australia have recalled several established players, including captain Mitchell Marsh and opening batter Travis Head, while experienced fast bowlers Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc have been selected for the South African leg of the tour.
Josh Hazlewood also returns to the ODI squad.
However, one of the biggest talking points from the selection is the omission of Marnus Labuschagne, who has been left out following a prolonged lean run in limited-overs cricket.
Labuschagne has been a regular member of Australia’s ODI side since 2022 and played a role in the country’s 2023 World Cup triumph in India. His exclusion raises questions about his prospects of making Australia’s squad for the 2027 tournament.
Australian selectors, however, stressed that the decision was based on his ODI performances and should not necessarily be interpreted as a verdict on his Test future. Labuschagne’s recent ODI average has fallen sharply.
The selectors have also retained promising youngsters Joel Davies and Oliver Peake, while Cooper Connolly has been included as Australia continue to build depth ahead of the World Cup.
“This six-game series is an important lead-in to next year’s World Cup, being played in the same countries,” chief selector George Bailey said.
Bailey said the return of Marsh, Head and Hazlewood, along with Cummins and Starc for the South African leg, would give Australia a strong core while allowing younger players to gain valuable international experience.
The squad comprises 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 and Adam Zampa.
Cummins and Starc will join the squad only for the South African leg.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe held off a stunning Namibia fightback in a dramatic T20I contest in Windhoek to secure their first win of the tri-series. After both sides recovered from major batting collapses, Brad Evans held his nerve in a chaotic final over as Zimbabwe sealed a five-run victory.
