Zimbabwe will face Australia in the first ODI of their three-match series at Harare Sports Club on Tuesday, September 15. The series marks Australia’s first bilateral ODI tour of Zimbabwe in more than a decade and provides both teams with an important opportunity to prepare for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Zimbabwe enter the series after a 2-1 ODI series victory over Bangladesh in July, while Australia arrive after losing their most recent ODI series 2-1 to Bangladesh. Australia have brought a strong squad to Harare, although regular captain Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc are unavailable for the Zimbabwe leg.
Match details
Match: Zimbabwe vs Australia, 1st ODI
Series: Australia tour of Zimbabwe 2026
Date: Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Venue: Harare Sports Club, Harare
Start time: 9:30 AM local time, 12:30 PM PKT, 1:00 PM IST
Format: ODI
Series: Three matches
The remaining matches will take place at the same venue on September 18 and September 20.
Team overviews
Zimbabwe have named an experienced squad for the series, with Sikandar Raza taking over as captain in place of Richard Ngarava. Ngarava continues to recover from a lower-back injury and will miss the series.
The hosts have also recalled Brendan Taylor and Graeme Cremer. Taylor returns to the ODI setup after more than a year away, while Cremer makes his return to ODI cricket after eight years. Clive Madande and Tanaka Chivanga are among those unavailable.
Zimbabwe will hope their recent success against Bangladesh provides confidence. Their 2-1 series victory in July was their most recent ODI assignment before this contest.
Australia have selected a 15-man squad as they begin preparations for next year’s World Cup in southern Africa. Mitchell Marsh will captain the side with Pat Cummins rested, while Travis Head returns after missing Australia’s previous ODI series.
Cooper Connolly, Josh Inglis, Oliver Peake and Joel Davies are among the players competing for important positions in Australia’s middle order. The pace attack also features Josh Hazlewood, Xavier Bartlett, Spencer Johnson and Nathan Ellis.
Australia will be particularly keen to improve after their 2-1 series defeat against Bangladesh in June. The tour also gives them a chance to assess their ODI combination with several experienced players no longer part of the setup.
Key players
Sikandar Raza: Raza will lead Zimbabwe in place of the injured Richard Ngarava. His experience with both bat and ball makes him central to Zimbabwe’s chances against Australia.
Brendan Taylor: Taylor’s return adds considerable experience to the Zimbabwe lineup. The 40-year-old needs 81 runs to overtake Andy Flower as Zimbabwe’s leading ODI run-scorer.
Cooper Connolly: Connolly enters the series after scoring 149 against Bangladesh in Australia’s most recent ODI campaign. His performance strengthens his case for a regular place in the middle order.
Blessing Muzarabani: The 203cm fast bowler remains one of Zimbabwe’s biggest threats with the ball. He has also enjoyed recent success against Australia, including four wickets against them at the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Adam Zampa: Zampa is approaching 200 ODI wickets and needs only two more to reach the landmark. His leg-spin could become particularly important in the middle overs.
Head-to-head record
Australia have dominated the ODI rivalry, although Zimbabwe have produced a famous victory in their most recent ODI meeting.
- Matches played: 33
- Australia wins: 29
- Zimbabwe wins: 3
- No result: 1
Zimbabwe’s last ODI victory over Australia came in September 2022, when Ryan Burl took 5 for 10 and Regis Chakabva’s unbeaten 37 helped them secure a three-wicket victory in Townsville. It was Zimbabwe’s first ODI win over Australia in Australia.
Pitch report
Harare Sports Club has hosted international cricket for decades and will also be one of the venues involved in the 2027 ODI World Cup.
The surface can offer assistance to seamers early in an innings, while batters who settle in can score freely as the conditions become easier. Australia’s pace options and Zimbabwe’s tall fast bowler Muzarabani could therefore play important roles with the new ball.
Spin should become increasingly important through the middle overs, bringing players such as Raza and Australia’s Zampa into the contest.
Probable match scenarios
Scenario 1: Zimbabwe bat first
Zimbabwe will want their experienced batters to build a strong platform before allowing Raza, Ryan Burl and the lower order to attack. A competitive total would put pressure on an Australian batting lineup still searching for its best combination.
Scenario 2: Australia bat first
Australia will look to use Head and Marsh at the top before relying on Connolly, Josh Inglis and Cameron Green to build momentum through the middle overs. Zimbabwe will need early wickets from Muzarabani and Brad Evans to prevent Australia from controlling the chase.
Probable playing XIs
Zimbabwe
- Ben Curran
- Brian Bennett
- Craig Ervine
- Brendan Taylor
- Sikandar Raza (Captain)
- Tadiwanashe Marumani (Wicketkeeper)
- Ryan Burl
- Brad Evans
- Wellington Masakadza
- Newman Nyamhuri
- Blessing Muzarabani
Australia
- Travis Head
- Mitchell Marsh (Captain)
- Cooper Connolly
- Cameron Green
- Josh Inglis
- Alex Carey (Wicketkeeper)
- Xavier Bartlett
- Adam Zampa
- Nathan Ellis
- Josh Hazlewood
- Spencer Johnson
Team news: Cameron Green is set to miss the first ODI with a sore shoulder, while Josh Hazlewood has been managed for the series opener. Spencer Johnson is therefore in line for his first ODI appearance in 18 months.
Live streaming and broadcast
India: FanCode is listed for live streaming, while broadcast information should be checked with local rights holders.
Pakistan: Official Pakistan broadcast information was not confirmed in the sources checked.
Australia: Fox Cricket will provide coverage of Australia’s ODI tour, with streaming available through Kayo Sports.
Zimbabwe: Official local broadcast information should be checked with Zimbabwe Cricket and local rights holders.
Match prediction
Australia enter the series as the stronger side on paper, with a deeper squad and several established international players returning to the ODI setup.
Zimbabwe, however, have home advantage and enter the contest with an experienced squad led by Raza. Their recent 2-1 series victory over Bangladesh also gives them confidence, while their memorable ODI victory over Australia in 2022 shows that they can cause problems when conditions suit them.
Australia’s bowling attack should provide the biggest difference, particularly with Hazlewood, Zampa and the returning Spencer Johnson available. Zimbabwe will need their top order to produce a substantial total or successfully chase a competitive score to challenge the visitors.
Prediction: Australia to win the first ODI.
