Zim v Aus 2nd ODI 2026 – Hazlewood, Stanlake in, unchanged Zimbabwe opt to bowl | ACTPnews

Zim v Aus 2nd ODI 2026 - Hazlewood, Stanlake in, unchanged Zimbabwe opt to bowl


Australia welcomed back Josh Hazlewood, who has not played an ODI since October last year, in one of two changes to their winning XI against Zimbabwe for the second ODI in Harare.
Hazlewood did not play the first match of the series as his workload is managed in a busy season but has been brought into the team, with Australia a win away from closing out the series. The other switch is also in the attack is Billy Stanlake, set to play his ninth ODI. The two quicks replace Xavier Bartlett and Spencer Johnson.

They stuck to the same batting combination with Mitch Marsh and Travis Head at the top and Cooper Connolly at No.3 with Cameron Green still unavailable due to shoulder soreness although he is expected to return in game three on Sunday.

Their line-up will have to front-up first as Sikandar Raza chose to bowl, with the hope his new-ball bowlers can exploit any early moisture to keep them in the contest.

The match will be played on a different surface to game one, which was excellent for run-scoring. While there is still substantial grass covering, it is expected to take some turn later in the day.

Zimbabwe stuck to the same team that had their moments against Australia three days ago, with Brendan Taylor continuing at No.4 and behind the stumps leaving no room for Tadiwanashe Marumani. Left-arm spinner Wellington Masakadza has once again been preferred to either of the legspinners Ryan Burl and Graeme Creamer. Both are on the bench.

Zimbabwe: 1 Brian Bennett, 3 Ben Curran, 3 Innocent Kaia, 4 Brendan Taylor (wk), 5 Craig Ervine, 6 Sikandar Raza (capt), 7 Wessly Madhevere, 8 Brad Evans, 9 Newman Nyamhuri, 10 Wellington Masakadza, 11 Blessing Murazabani

Australia: 1 Mitch Marsh (capt), 2 Travis Head, 3 Cooper Connolly, 4 Josh Inglis (wk), 5 Alex Carey, 6 Matt Renshaw, 7 Oliver Peake, 8 Nathan Ellis, 9 Adam Zampa, 10 Josh Hazlewood, 11 Billy Stanlake



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