Australia have already announced their squad:
Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Joel Davies, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Mitchell Marsh, Oliver Peake, Matthew Renshaw, Billy Stanlake, Adam Zampa
Pat Cummins and Mitch Starc are skipping the Zimbabwe matches, but will be available for the South Africa ODIs. At least Josh Hazlewood makes the trip.
Series
Series Discussion: Australia ODI Tour of Zimbabwe 2026 | 2026 Sep 15 - 2026 Sep 20
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ZCF OriginalLegend
Even with Starc and Cummins not there, that Aus bowling attack is quite potent. Bartlett and Johnson are some speed and accuracy merchants.
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ShareWhy was Ervine included for Bangladesh ODIS but not Taylor? Its been more than a year since Williams was dropped and with him no longer here, Taylor is your best shot experience wise and technique wise. Ervine simply doesnt perform, I agree Taylor is not suited to the high dynamics of T20i anymore but he can atleast do better than Ervine in ODIS, they should atleast include him up until Naqvi is eligible, Nick Welch was also banned for a couple of games so the real prospect everybody is looking at right now is Antum Naqvi. On that note, does anybody know when he will be eligible to play for Zimbabwe?
Also Zimbabwe definitely need a genuine leggie in their playing XI. If it isnt cremer, pick someone else but enough of this wellington show. He doesnt create an impact whatsoever. Chinaman bowlers might be rare in Zimbabwe but they have leggies roaming in domestic so why not play them if Cremer is done for?
Also Zimbabwe definitely need a genuine leggie in their playing XI. If it isnt cremer, pick someone else but enough of this wellington show. He doesnt create an impact whatsoever. Chinaman bowlers might be rare in Zimbabwe but they have leggies roaming in domestic so why not play them if Cremer is done for?
zayn.
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Edited
Quoted from Zayn_36 in post #46536
Why was Ervine included for Bangladesh ODIS but not Taylor? Its been more than a year since Williams was dropped and with him no longer here, Taylor is your best shot experience wise and technique wise. Ervine simply doesnt perform, I agree Taylor is not suited to the high dynamics of T20i anymore but he can atleast do better than Ervine in ODIS, they should atleast include him up until Naqvi is eligible, Nick Welch was also banned for a couple of games so the real prospect everybody is looking at right now is Antum Naqvi. On that note, does anybody know when he will be eligible to play for Zimbabwe?
Also Zimbabwe definitely need a genuine leggie in their playing XI. If it isnt cremer, pick someone else but enough of this wellington show. He doesnt create an impact whatsoever. Chinaman bowlers might be rare in Zimbabwe but they have leggies roaming in domestic so why not play them if Cremer is done for?
Taylor i think is past it. The One-days against Sri Lanka last year proved that. Even in tests he seems to be struggling. A 54 ball 17, with 3 half-centuries and 1 centuries around him in the Bangladesh test.
To seem out of form is one thing, but Taylor looks visibly at strife in the middle. Craig Ervine on the other hand always seemed good, at least in the domestic level. It was only in the ODIs that he seemed a little lost, but I think another series or two should be given to him. He deserves that.
I do agree that we need a leggie though.
Unfortunately, Masekasa seems the only option right now.
Zimbabwe fan, long time lurker on the old ZCF
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Quoted from dandy in post #46545I do agree that we need a leggie though.
Unfortunately, Masekasa seems the only option right now.
Mavuta?
CremerCurrans
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Quoted from totoro in post #46587
Mavuta?
Oh sh*t yeah, I forgot about him
Zimbabwe fan, long time lurker on the old ZCF
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@admin can you put the setting of forum in such a way that recent post posted by a user should be shown in the up above all. It is showing one by one down but 3 month ago it was showing up whenever a new post added . Kindly do it as it is very convenient for users to read .
Shukla
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Quoted from shukla8596 in post #46618
@admin can you put the setting of forum in such a way that recent post posted by a user should be shown in the up above all. It is showing one by one down but 3 month ago it was showing up whenever a new post added . Kindly do it as it is very convenient for users to read .
Hi shukla!
Thanks for the suggestion.
Let's take this discussion to the Bugs and Features thread.
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Edited
Quoted from admin in post #46624
Crazy that the Zimbabwe squad hasn't been announced yet!
Squads out now
Not too promising tbh
Zimbabwe fan, long time lurker on the old ZCF
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Edited
Quoted from dandy in post #46631
Quoted from admin in post #46624
Crazy that the Zimbabwe squad hasn't been announced yet!
Squads out now
Not too promising tbh
Who was unlucky to miss out?
Zimbabwe squad:
- 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
Big shoes for Nyamhuri to fill. With Ngarava out, he now has to step up. That's a big ask.
Cremer, Ervine and Taylor will all be under the microscope in this series. What happens if they don't perform? Perhaps we find out whether they should still be in the picture for next year's World Cup. I think Taylor is taking up a spot that should have gone to Matty Campbell. I hope he proves me wrong.
Marumani takes Madande's spot. Pretty straightforward.
Is it time to try Michael Frost? Welly was dire in Namibia and has been below average for a while now. Maybe, just maybe, it's time for him to step aside. Then again, perhaps Cremer is the one keeping Frost out?
Let's see which XI actually walks out on Tuesday.
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if ZC is going with 4 40 year olds to the world cup, might as well get williams back into the fold, heard he signed up for a league somewhere and is returning to cricket so fingers crossed, never say never
I still think one or 2 of these 40 year olds wont make it to the final WC squad for 2027. Again no sign of campbell & welch brothers. The blignaut kids played the u19 world cup this year, does anybody have an update on them? One was kian blignaut who scored a century, might be a good time to draft one of them in, bennett also rose through the ranks after a good u19 campaign although i still believe he should be batting at no3 or no4, not opening.
Excited to see Burl return to the ODI fold but he really needs to shift gears now or else one of him or Evans will play in the XI.
No explanation as to why masakadza is there, his left arm spin which doesnt turn by the way wont do Zimbabwe any good. Ngarava will be missed for sure but Zimbabwe can make this series interesting if the old blokes and madhevere/marumani are all in form.
I still think one or 2 of these 40 year olds wont make it to the final WC squad for 2027. Again no sign of campbell & welch brothers. The blignaut kids played the u19 world cup this year, does anybody have an update on them? One was kian blignaut who scored a century, might be a good time to draft one of them in, bennett also rose through the ranks after a good u19 campaign although i still believe he should be batting at no3 or no4, not opening.
Excited to see Burl return to the ODI fold but he really needs to shift gears now or else one of him or Evans will play in the XI.
No explanation as to why masakadza is there, his left arm spin which doesnt turn by the way wont do Zimbabwe any good. Ngarava will be missed for sure but Zimbabwe can make this series interesting if the old blokes and madhevere/marumani are all in form.
zayn.
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Edited
Quoted from Zayn_63 in post #46633
if ZC is going with 4 40 year olds to the world cup, might as well get williams back into the fold, heard he signed up for a league somewhere and is returning to cricket so fingers crossed, never say never
I still think one or 2 of these 40 year olds wont make it to the final WC squad for 2027. Again no sign of campbell & welch brothers. The blignaut kids played the u19 world cup this year, does anybody have an update on them? One was kian blignaut who scored a century, might be a good time to draft one of them in, bennett also rose through the ranks after a good u19 campaign although i still believe he should be batting at no3 or no4, not opening.
Excited to see Burl return to the ODI fold but he really needs to shift gears now or else one of him or Evans will play in the XI.
No explanation as to why masakadza is there, his left arm spin which doesnt turn by the way wont do Zimbabwe any good. Ngarava will be missed for sure but Zimbabwe can make this series interesting if the old blokes and madhevere/marumani are all in form.
Most likely Cremer and Taylor won't be making it to 2027, Ervine's chances also look remote. Raza will most probably be there.
This would be my XI for the aus series:
1. Kaia
2. Curran
3. Ervine
4. Bennett
5. Wez
6. Maru
7. Raza
8. Evans
9. Cremer/Welly
10. Newman
11. Blessing
Bennett drops down to 4 for me. Never was convincing as an opener in tests and One-days, despite the centuries he got there.
Also Williams coming back is an impossibility, he was banned, not retired, only Wes has managed to comeback after that.
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I’d have given Ervine the captaincy in Richie’s absence 😂 I mentioned it to last week while discussing it with someone how old Raz captains in the moment with his heart on the sleeve with no plan, there’s been a few games he’s messed up the bowling and decent guys haven’t bowled their full quota.
Squad is as expected. BT is an interesting one. He’s not looked good in the previous internationals he’s played but he’s had a reasonable NPL so is a stats based pick I guess.
Is there a way Williams can force himself back in? Hasn’t played for a year but I saw he’s got a deal at some franchise league soon. Picks up where he left off and he might be hard to ignore.
Squad is as expected. BT is an interesting one. He’s not looked good in the previous internationals he’s played but he’s had a reasonable NPL so is a stats based pick I guess.
Is there a way Williams can force himself back in? Hasn’t played for a year but I saw he’s got a deal at some franchise league soon. Picks up where he left off and he might be hard to ignore.
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If taylor can return after ban, so can williams. He is at par with taylor if not better than him. Plus he is a lefty and also bowls a bit so that helps if one of the other bowlers go for a tap
Taylor made unions, took kolpak deal and faced bans still he is playing and reality is ZC wanted taylor to play, he was looking towards coaching but the MD or someone wanted experience in the XI. I remember a time raza traded blows with zc over his contract. There were times when ervine and cremer left zimbabwe cricket and yet both returned and even captained the side at different stages. If williams can play in domestic, he just needs to score heavy runs and one of ervine or taylor will have to make way for him
Taylor made unions, took kolpak deal and faced bans still he is playing and reality is ZC wanted taylor to play, he was looking towards coaching but the MD or someone wanted experience in the XI. I remember a time raza traded blows with zc over his contract. There were times when ervine and cremer left zimbabwe cricket and yet both returned and even captained the side at different stages. If williams can play in domestic, he just needs to score heavy runs and one of ervine or taylor will have to make way for him
zayn.
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Edited
Williams does have some sort of franchise gig coming up.
I am for a Williams comeback but his got to be playing cricket first.
The Bligniught boys are not even 18 I think.
No need to rush them.
Campbell and Frost probably do have a case for the ODI’s
I like Nick Welch but he has seemed to disappeared from the face of the earth. Regarding playing cricket.
Tony Munyungo is someone I would have rather seen be gifted a run of ODI cricket then T20i.
They are really needing to blood newbies before the world cup.
I am for a Williams comeback but his got to be playing cricket first.
The Bligniught boys are not even 18 I think.
No need to rush them.
Campbell and Frost probably do have a case for the ODI’s
I like Nick Welch but he has seemed to disappeared from the face of the earth. Regarding playing cricket.
Tony Munyungo is someone I would have rather seen be gifted a run of ODI cricket then T20i.
They are really needing to blood newbies before the world cup.
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Quoted from Andy31 in post #46642
Williams does have some sort of franchise gig coming up.
I am for a Williams comeback but his got to be playing cricket first.
The Bligniught boys are not even 18 I think.
No need to rush them.
Campbell and Frost probably do have a case for the ODI’s
I like Nick Welch but he has seemed to disappeared from the face of the earth. Regarding playing cricket.
Tony Munyungo is someone I would have rather seen be gifted a run of ODI cricket then T20i.
They are really needing to blood newbies before the world cup.
Which franchise is it? Any info?
Regarding Welch, I never found him to be comfortable when he's batting, it always seemed like he's playing for his life out there.
Wouldn't hurt to see Matt Campbell in Zim colours too.... and the Blignaut bros were disappointing in the youth world cup this year tho
Zimbabwe fan, long time lurker on the old ZCF
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Edited
Quoted from dandy in post #46635
This would be my XI for the aus series:
1. Kaia
2. Curran
3. Ervine
4. Bennett
5. Wez
6. Maru
7. Raza
8. Evans
9. Cremer/Welly
10. Newman
11. Blessing
Bennett drops down to 4 for me. Never was convincing as an opener in tests and One-days, despite the centuries he got there.
Also Williams coming back is an impossibility, he was banned, not retired, only Wes has managed to comeback after that.
Yes, Bennett should move down to 4. Kaia to open with BC. Cremer over Welly. This is the line up I would go with.
I wouldn't be so quick to write Williams off though. Me thinks he will be in the squad for the world cup. We'll see.
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Quoted from dandy in post #46643
Quoted from Andy31 in post #46642
Williams does have some sort of franchise gig coming up.
I am for a Williams comeback but his got to be playing cricket first.
The Bligniught boys are not even 18 I think.
No need to rush them.
Campbell and Frost probably do have a case for the ODI’s
I like Nick Welch but he has seemed to disappeared from the face of the earth. Regarding playing cricket.
Tony Munyungo is someone I would have rather seen be gifted a run of ODI cricket then T20i.
They are really needing to blood newbies before the world cup.
Which franchise is it? Any info?
Regarding Welch, I never found him to be comfortable when he's batting, it always seemed like he's playing for his life out there.
Wouldn't hurt to see Matt Campbell in Zim colours too.... and the Blignaut bros were disappointing in the youth world cup this year tho
So his playing for
Africa lions
Comp: world t20 Continent Cup
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Edited
I think this series will sort out a few of our batsmen moving forward. For Taylor, Ervine and Raza, this is the time to step up against Australia otherwise they should not be selected moving forward.
My XI:
Bennett
Curran
Kaia
Taylor
Ervine
Raza
Marumani
Evans
Cremer
Nyamhuri
Muzarabani
Pray for a low and slow Harare pitch.
My XI:
Bennett
Curran
Kaia
Taylor
Ervine
Raza
Marumani
Evans
Cremer
Nyamhuri
Muzarabani
Pray for a low and slow Harare pitch.
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