Zimbabwe vs Australia Prediction & Match Preview – 1st ODI, Harare
Match summary
Australia won by 59 runs: Zimbabwe 235 (45.1 ov), Australia 294/8 (50 ov). Player of the match: Matt Renshaw.
Our preview of Zimbabwe vs Australia in the 1st ODI at Harare Sports Club on 15 September 2026: Australia’s likely XI, pitch, weather and expected scores.
Match details
| Match | Zimbabwe vs Australia, 1st ODI |
|---|---|
| Series | Australia tour of Zimbabwe 2026 |
| Date | 15 Sep 2026 |
| Start time | 7:30 am GMT / 9:30 am local |
| Venue | Harare Sports Club, Harare |
| Status | Result |
| Result | Australia won by 59 runs |
| Player of the match | Matt Renshaw |
| Our pick | Australia ✓ |
| Toss pick | Zimbabwe |
Matches in this series
Match preview
Zimbabwe host Australia in the first ODI of Australia’s 2026 tour at Harare Sports Club on Tuesday 15 September, with a morning start.
Zimbabwe had not announced their side when this preview was prepared. Australia are led by Mitchell Marsh and the expected XI features Josh Inglis, Cooper Connolly, Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey and Cameron Green in the batting, with Nathan Ellis, Xavier Bartlett, Ben Dwarshuis, Adam Zampa and Tanveer Sangha forming the bowling group. Their wider squad includes Travis Head, Josh Hazlewood, Spencer Johnson, Matthew Renshaw, Oliver Peake, Billy Stanlake and Joel Davies.
The new ball may move, so the first part of the innings could be tricky. Batting should ease once players settle, though the pitch can slow. Pacers with variations may be effective in the middle and death overs. A total of 255 or more is competitive and 270 would be strong, so a chase above 260 could be hard.
Harare Sports Club generally gives fast bowlers some swing and seam early on. As the innings goes on, the surface improves for batting and well-set players can accelerate. Later in the game it can slow down, which brings spinners and slower-ball bowlers into play. For an ODI, the expected scores below are a better guide than T20 benchmarks.
Harare should be hazy and sunny at the 9:30 am local start, cool at around 21°C and warming through the morning. Rain is unlikely and the dry conditions should suit cricket, with no significant interruption anticipated.
Expected scores
| Innings | Predicted | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| First innings | 220–245 | 235 (45.1 ov) |
| Second innings | 250–270 | 294/8 (50 ov) |
Australia
Our preview favours Australia, the stronger side on paper, in the opening ODI of the series.
Toss pick: Zimbabwe
FAQ
Where is the first Zimbabwe vs Australia ODI?
At Harare Sports Club in Harare on 15 September 2026, with a 9:30 am local start.
Who is expected to win?
Our preview picks Australia, with Zimbabwe tipped to win the toss.
Has Zimbabwe named its XI?
Not at the time of writing; the Zimbabwe line-up was still to be announced.
Probable XIs
Expected line-ups from our preview. c = captain, wk = wicketkeeper.
Zimbabwe
Not announced.
Australia
- Mitchell Marshc
- Josh Ingliswk
- Cooper Connolly
- Marnus Labuschagne
- Alex Carey
- Cameron Green
- Nathan Ellis
- Xavier Bartlett
- Ben Dwarshuis
- Adam Zampa
- Tanveer Sangha
Head-to-head
Earlier meetings of Zimbabwe and Australia that we covered.