Zimbabwe squad for Australia ODIs: Former captain returns

Zimbabwe have announced a 15-member squad for the ODI series against Australia. The side will be led by Sikandar Raza, filling in for regular ODI captain Richard Ngarava, who is currently recovering from a lower-back injury.

The series also marks the return of Graeme Cremer, the former captain who last played an ODI in 2018. The leg-spinner joins long-time teammate Brendan Taylor, who also returns to the fold, having played two ODIs against Sri Lanka in 2025 after a four-year hiatus. The 40-year-old keeper-batter is Zimbabwe’s second-highest ODI run-getter of all time and is just 81 short of beating Andy Flower’s record.

Tadiwanashe Marumani is the other keeping option in their side.

Interestingly, Cremer’s only ODI appearance against Australia came back in the 2011 World Cup. Having returned to the T20I setup last year, Cremer featured in the T20 World Cup earlier this year, before returning for the Namibia T20I tri-series.

Along with Ngarava, Tendai Chatara is also absent from the squad, having been sidelined due to Achilles tendon injury. Meanwhile, keeper-bat Clive Madande was not picked after featuring in the previous ODI series, against Bangladesh in July.

The last time Zimbabwe hosted Australia for an ODI was back in 2014, when the two featured in a triangular series, with South Africa the third participating team.

The three matches will be held on 15, 18 and 20 September, all at the Harare Sports Club.

Zimbabwe ODI squad for the Australia ODIs: Sikandar Raza (Captain), 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