Australia is gearing up for a return to Zimbabwe after an eight-year hiatus to engage in a three-match ODI series. The series is slated to take place from September 15 to 20 and is designed to aid the reigning ODI World Cup champions in their preparations.
The last time Australia visited Zimbabwe was for a T20I tri-series, competing against the hosts and Pakistan. Captained by Aaron Finch, the Australian team lost the final to Pakistan led by Sarfaraz Ahmed by a margin of six wickets.
Looking back to 2014, the last ODI encounter between Australia and Zimbabwe ended in an embarrassing defeat for Australia as they were held to 209/9, a target successfully chased down by the hosts in 48 overs.
Fast forward twelve years, Australia is now set to engage in a three-match series as part of their groundwork for the upcoming 2027 ODI World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Namibia.
Australia’s visit to Zimbabwe forms part of a broader African tour, with the team proceeding to South Africa immediately post the ODI series. The tour will encompass three ODIs and three Test matches against South Africa.
In a statement released on Thursday, Zimbabwe Cricket Managing Director Givemore Makoni expressed excitement about hosting Australia for the competitive ODI series, emphasizing the significance of such fixtures in their team’s development.
The forthcoming series presents Australia with an opportunity to acclimate to African conditions ahead of defending their title. Notably, the contest carries added significance due to Australia’s elimination from the T20 World Cup 2026 by Zimbabwe, following a failure to advance past the group stage.
The schedule for the upcoming tours is as follows:
– Australia Tour of Zimbabwe:
1st ODI: September 15, Harare, 9:30 am local time
2nd ODI: September 18, Harare, 9:30 am local time
3rd ODI: September 20, Harare, 9:30 am local time
– Australia ODI Tour of South Africa:
1st ODI: September 24, Durban
2nd ODI: September 27, Johannesburg
3rd ODI: September 30, Potchefstroom
The upcoming tours are crucial for both teams as they gear up for future competitions and international events.