Australia Announce Playing XI For First ODI Against Zimbabwe; Mitchell Starc Returns To ODI Format After A Year

Australia on Saturday named their playing XI for the One-Day International match against Zimbabwe. Australia hosts the African team for three ODIs with the first match scheduled to play on Sunday (August 28) at the Tony Ireland Stadium in Townsville.

Left-arm speedster Mitchell Starc will return to the format after last featuring against the West Indies in July 2021. Starc missed the ODI series against Sri Lanka in June due to a finger injury in the T20I series of the same tour.

Mitchell Starc, and Steve Smith return to the ODI team against Zimbabwe

Besides Starc, Steve Smith and Marcus Stoinis also make their way back into the ODI team after missing the Sri Lanka series.

Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis and Matthew Kunheman made way for Starc, Smith and Stoinis. All-rounder Cameron Green, who played three of the five ODI matches against Sri Lanka in June, will retain his place in the playing XI. 

Australia plan to field four all-rounders in their team to bolster the bowling options and depth in batting.   

Australia white-ball captain Aaron Finch explained the reason to snub Labuschagne from the team in the first game against Zimbabwe.

“The reasoning behind Marnus (missing out) is we’re just going with an all-rounder-heavy side. Two quicks plus Zampa and Cameron Green as the fourth genuine bowler. And then using Marsh, Stoinis, Maxwell as our fifth bowler effectively,” Finch told reporters.

It’s a way of lengthening our batting: Aaron Finch on including too many all-rounders 

Finch said Steve Smith will be batting at No.3, while wicketkeeper Alex Carey’s position will be at No.4 in the batting order for the first ODI. 

“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 the team,” Finch said.

Australia Test skipper Pat Cummins has been rested for this series but leg-spinner Adam Zampa, who missed the Sri Lanka tour to attend the birth of his child, make his way into Finch’s XI.

Australia playing XI vs Zimbabwe 1st ODI: Aaron Finch, David Warner, Steve Smith, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Marsh, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.

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