Aussie top-seven dilemma to be solved in WC audition; horror sign minnows can’t be overlooked

While Australia has a massive year of Test cricket ahead, in just over a year the Aussies will also be tasked with defending the World Cup title they won in stunning fashion in India in 2023.

The final push for a tournament to be hosted in Africa begins on Tuesday in Zimbabwe, with Australia to play three ODI matches there and another three in South Africa prior to an extended run of matches against England in November.

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There is a fascination as to who will feature in the World Cup squad and the next fortnight shapes as a crucial time for several players hopeful of featuring in the tournament to be hosted in Zimbabwe, South Africa and Namibia next October.

The Foxsports.com.au team discuss the major Talking Points leading into the back-to-back series against Zimbabwe and South Africa.

ODI SCHEDULE (All times AEST)

Tour of Zimbabwe

First ODI: Tuesday September 15, 5:30pm at Harare Sports Club

Second ODI: Friday September 18, 5:30pm at Harare Sports Club

Third ODI: Sunday September 20, 5:30pm at Harare Sports Club

Tour of South Africa

First ODI: Thursday September 24, 6pm at Kingsmead, Durban

Second ODI: Sunday September 27, 6pm at The Wanderers, Johannesburg

Third ODI: Wednesday September 30, 9:30pm at JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom

Watch every match live and exclusive on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports.

‘HAD THE WOOD OVER US’: ZIM VETERANS ‘NO EASY BEATS’

When most Australian cricket fans think of their men’s team taking on Zimbabwe, they probably think of Matthew Hayden’s record-breaking 380 at the WACA.

Younger generations may think of Aaron Finch’s T20 international record knock of 172 from 76 balls in Harare in 2018.

But even though Australian batters have filled their boots against Zimbabwe in the past, the modern-day meetings between the two nations have not been the shellackings many have come to expect.

In fact, across the white ball formats, Zimbabwe have beaten Australia in their last two meetings, including a deflating loss to end a disappointing an embarrassing World Cup in February.

Opening batter Brian Bennett (64*) and towering seamer Blessing Muzarabani (4/17) inspired The Chevrons to a 23-run victory in Colombo at the T20 World Cup, with Australia failing to make it out of the group as a result.

While leg-spinner Ryan Burl (5/10) dismissed the likes of David Warner and Glenn Maxwell as he tore through Australia’s batting line-up on the way to a three-wicket win in their last ODI meeting in Townsville in 2022.

Zimbabwe also won by three wickets the last time the two teams played a 50-over aside match in Harare back in 2014.

The memories of those losses are still burning bright in the minds of the current Australian squad.

Zimbabwe, who won their only ODI series so far this year at home against Bangladesh, boast four players in their squad who will be aged 40 or older by the end of the series. So much for the Aussies being branded a “Dad’s Army”.

Captain Sikandar Raza, batters Craig Ervine and Brendan Taylor, as well as leg spinner Graeme Cremer all well and truly qualify for veteran status, but the tourists know not to take the hosts lightly.

“We’ve played them a little bit now, and I guess you could say we’ve built up a little bit of a rivalry,” Australian pace bowler Nathan Ellis said in Harare on Sunday.

“They’ve had the wood over us more recently at the T20 World Cup. So (we are) excited to not only try and get a little bit of redemption but also start building towards the one-day World Cup (co-hosted by Zimbabwe) in a year or so.

“There are no easy beats. I think people can have that perception at times, but it doesn’t feel that way in our change room.”

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Remarkably, there are more Australians in the touring squad from that shock result at the T20 World Cup than Zimbabweans who have been named for this ODI series.

Josh Inglis, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Matt Renshaw, Adam Zampa and Ellis all featured that day in Colombo for Australia.

In contrast, only Raza, Bennett, Muzarabani, Tadiwanashe Marumani and Brad Evans, who was playing club cricket in Manchester only months before dismissing Head and Green on his way to taking 3/23, will face the Australians again.

But Burl also gets another crack at Australia after his Townsville heroics, while Raza and Taylor also featured in that 2014 victory against a Michael Clarke captained side which included current Australian skipper Mitchell Marsh, now chairman of selectors George Bailey, Mitchell Starc (who will join the squad for the upcoming ODIs against South Africa) and Test tweaker Nathan Lyon.

With those memories running through the Zimbabwe squad, they not only hope to cause an upset, but genuinely believe they can.

Raza summed up that attitude in a feisty interview with ESPN during the T20 World Cup earlier this year.

“A lot of the people do not even know that Zimbabwe, Afghanistan and Ireland are Test nations,” he said.

“There’s been a lot of chatter about “Oh, the Associate cricketers are doing well. Look at Zimbabwe. Look at Ireland. That tells me people do not do their homework and just want to open their mouths, and anything that comes out, they’ll just post it or say it.

“Almost everybody’s got a chance. I’m not sure how you determine which team has a better chance. It’s XI vs XI, isn’t it?”

A DEATH BOWLER LOOKING OVER HIS SHOULDER

Ellis, meanwhile, is looking over his shoulder despite having been a mainstay of the Australian white ball attack for the past couple of years after making his debut against Pakistan back in 2022.

While Josh Hazlewood will feature in Zimbabwe, fellow champions Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc will join the squad in South Africa and could play their first ODI match together since the 2023 World Cup decider in India.

But it is unlikely the trio will play against England in mid-November given the Test demands in South Africa before that series and New Zealand and India through the summer, which will give Ellis and others plenty of time to press their claims.

The 31-year-old, who has 28 wickets in 22 ODIs for Australia at an average of 34.5, with an economy rate of 5.29, is a realist and is hoping to learn as much as he can from spending time around the legends.

“Obviously the team grows another leg when you have the likes of those players (available). They are sort of a once in a generation group of bowlers coming back into the squad,” he said.

“It goes without saying it is exciting to have the prospect of all of those playing together. For me, sort of getting to play with them is an exciting prospect, but the big boys are ready and raring to go.”

In a separate interview with cricket.com.au, Ellis said he was desperate to be part of the Australian World Cup squad for the tournament in Zimbabwe, South Africa and Namibia next October after missing the last one due to injury.

“I’m very well aware of the bowling crop that we have at full strength – it’s bloody good,” said Ellis.

“I just really want to be there (at the 2027 World Cup). I missed the India one (in 2023) through injury, (and I) watched on very jealous and feeling sad and sorry for myself. So a plane ticket in that 15 is really big to me and it’ll be something I’m striving towards.

“New ball, old ball, death. I’ll do it. I’ll do anything to get on that plane.”

‘REALLY CLEAR’: CAREY FORCING CURLY KEEPING QUESTION

For nearly five years, Alex Carey has had a monopoly on Australia’s Test wicketkeeper position.

In ODI cricket, though, that’s very much not the case.

Carey was usurped by Josh Inglis amid the team’s poor start to the 2023 World Cup, watching on as the Western Australian gloveman made a series of key contributions to Australia’s extraordinary tournament win.

Since then, the 35-year old has remained a constant around the squad, featuring in 19 of 29 ODIs since that memorable night in Ahmedabad – 14 of them alongside Inglis.

But without fail, Inglis has remained the first-choice keeper, with his status in the team confirmed when he filled in for Pat Cummins and Mitchell Marsh as captain for all six of Australia’s mid-year matches against Pakistan and Bangladesh on the subcontinent.

It’s an odd juxtaposition to their spots in the Test pecking order, with Inglis needing to force his way into the squad as a specialist batter, with Carey’s spot never truly questioned.

With five half-centuries in his first nine innings as a specialist ODI batter, the South Australian re-established himself as a regular in the team in that discipline alone.

Carey’s versatility has made him an important asset as Australia have experimented with their ideal top seven over the last 12 months in particular, briefly opening the batting to start the Pakistan series in May and June.

But over the last 12 months, he has made just 139 runs at 17.4, only once passing 24.

It’s a run similar to the all-formats dry spell following the 2023 Ashes that cost him his white-ball spot, even if this time his red-ball form, particularly over the summer against England and with his heroics in the Sheffield Shield final, has remained sparkling.

Carey, though, is adamant he’s taking things one match at a time.

“Because there are so many exciting opportunities, I think sticking to my process every time I play and letting the rest take care of itself is probably the way that I see it,” he told foxsports.com.au ahead of the Zimbabwe series.

“For me, it’s been really clear the last couple of years in the one-day team in that middle order, and same with Test cricket.

“(I’m) just always trying to learn and improve, but (also) staying really focused on the next opportunity that comes.”

A second heartbreak on the eve of a World Cup would be a bitter pill to swallow for the 35-year old, who is unlikely to reach the 2031 tournament in India and Bangladesh.

And if he does turn things around, Australia face a curly World Cup question: does Carey, one of the leading keepers in the world, remain a batter only behind Inglis if his spot in the XI isn’t up for debate?

THE TOP-SEVEN DILEMMA … AND THE GLARING EXPERIENCE GAP

The fight for top-seven positions is set to be a brutal one ahead of next year’s World Cup.

Marsh and Travis Head will play ODI cricket for the first time since 2025, and seem all but certain to open the batting together, as they each did separately alongside David Warner at the 2023 tournament.

Inglis and Cameron Green, who averages 41.13 in ODI cricket, are locks in the middle order.

Young gun Cooper Connolly, who struck a dazzling 149 for his maiden 50-over century against Bangladesh, will also be given every chance, beginning against Zimbabwe, to rubberstamp his spot for the World Cup – potentially as Steve Smith’s long-term replacement at No.3.

The presence of Connolly and Green as all-rounders in the top six – and potentially Marsh, who bowls sparingly these days but was regularly given overs during the 2023 World Cup – gives Australia the flexibility to pick specialist batters best suited for the remaining roles, likely at Nos. 6 and 7.

Carey’s experience, versatility and capacity as a white-ball finisher – he repeatedly bailed Australia out at the 2019 tournament which served as his international breakout – likely gets him the nod over Matt Renshaw and Ollie Peake at the moment.

That trio have all been named in the 15-man squad for the Zimbabwe series, with two likely to start given the majority of spots have been devoted to a bevy of fast bowlers.

The retirement of Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis last year works in Carey’s favour on that score too.

But 12 months out from the prestigious tournament, Australia’s approach in Africa will be fascinating and giving Peake as much international experience as possible while there remains time to assess the ideal World Cup XI must be tempting.

As Australia’s chairman of selectors George Bailey said when unveiling the squad for the three match series against Zimbabwe this week and South Africa next week, it presents a great chance for young talents Peake, Connolly and Joel Davies to shine.

“For Ollie and Joel, who we rate very highly, it’s another fantastic opportunity and a further chance for them to continue their exposure and growth in the Australian team,” he said.

THE HIGHVELD FACTOR – HOW AUSSIES CAN UNLOCK WORLD CUP CLUE

Australia’s six ODIs in Africa – three apiece against Zimbabwe and South Africa – serve a vital fact-finding purpose.

It will be the team’s last and best chance to familiarise themselves with the conditions expected to be on hand at the 2027 World Cup on the same continent next year.

And the team knows the significance of the opportunity at hand.

“I think it’s really important to experience a series of six ODIs in those conditions to get a bit of an understanding of what the World Cup is going to be like,” Travis Head told foxsports.com.au.

“Yes, it’s a long way out, but I think it will benefit those who are playing and those who may not be in the squad.”

Ellis, too, said Australia will glean a great deal of information from the next six matches.

“As a team, it is (about) gathering information, getting what we can out of it, what works and what doesn’t work. It is a great platform and gives us a big runway to the World Cup next year,” he said on Sunday.

“It is a great opportunity for us here. We have got six games to get what we can out of it and gather as much information and start putting that all together for the big tournament next year.”

Of particular significance is a trait unique to African cricket: the highveld factor.

A significant chunk of the country’s interior is located on grassland plateau up to 1800 metres above sea level – more than a kilometre higher than the lowveld.

On the highveld, the thinner air reduces drag on the ball, allowing it to be hit further than in ordinary conditions.

It’s why the highest 10 ODI totals made in South Africa have been in highveld cities Johannesburg, Centurion, Potchefstroom, Benoni and Bloemfontein, including the Proteas’ monolithic 5/416 against the Aussies on their tour three years ago.

Zimbabwe is almost entirely on the highveld, too, with an average elevation of nearly a kilometre above sea level.

The MCG, by comparison, is only 25 metres above sea level.

With matches in Potchefstroom and Johannesburg also upcoming, it’s a golden opportunity for Australia’s batters to come to grips with the ground’s increased capacity for range hitting … and for bowlers to figure out how to combat it.

“One day cricket in South Africa is good fun. The ball (flies) around. I’m expecting some really, really big scores,” Head told foxsports.com.au

“Some series in South Africa … it can end up being 380 to 400 games every single night. When there’s no pressure in the series, obviously, some players roll the dice. I’m expecting it to be up there in scoring.”

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