Australia have confirmed a three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe as part of their preparation for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2027. The tournament will be hosted jointly by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. The upcoming matches will help Australia strengthen their white-ball strategy before the global event.
The ODI series will take place in September 2026 and will be followed by a tour of South Africa. Together, these tours are expected to give the Australian team valuable match practice in conditions similar to those expected during the 2027 World Cup.
Australia to Face Zimbabwe in Three ODIs
Australia will travel to Zimbabwe in September 2026 to play three One-Day Internationals at the Harare Sports Club. The series will help the defending ODI world champions fine-tune their squad and game plans before the 2027 tournament.
Zimbabwe have proven to be a competitive opponent in recent years, particularly in white-ball cricket. Australia were also knocked out in the group stage of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 after suffering a heavy defeat against Zimbabwe, which has made this upcoming series even more interesting.
The last time the two sides played a full ODI series was in September 2022. On that occasion, Zimbabwe stunned Australia with a memorable three-wicket victory in Townsville and went on to win the series 2-1. That result still stands as one of Zimbabwe’s biggest ODI achievements against Australia.
Because of that upset, the upcoming tour is expected to be a serious test for Australia as they continue their preparation for the next World Cup.
Australia Tour of Zimbabwe 2026 – ODI Schedule
| Match | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 1st ODI | September 15, 2026 | Harare Sports Club |
| 2nd ODI | September 18, 2026 | Harare Sports Club |
| 3rd ODI | September 20, 2026 | Harare Sports Club |
All matches will be played at Harare Sports Club, one of Zimbabwe’s most historic cricket venues. The conditions there are expected to be similar to those during the 2027 World Cup, making the series an important preparation opportunity.
Australia to Tour South Africa After Zimbabwe Series
After completing the Zimbabwe series, Australia will travel to South Africa for another important tour. South Africa will also host matches during the 2027 World Cup, so this tour will allow Australia to experience different playing conditions across the country.
The tour includes three ODIs followed by a warm-up match and a three-Test series.
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Australia Tour of South Africa 2026 – Schedule
| Match | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 1st ODI | September 24, 2026 | Kingsmead, Durban |
| 2nd ODI | September 27, 2026 | Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg |
| 3rd ODI | September 30, 2026 | JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom (D/N) |
| Warm-up Match | October 3–4, 2026 | JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom |
| 1st Test | October 9–13, 2026 | Kingsmead Stadium, Durban |
| 2nd Test | October 18–22, 2026 | St George’s Park, Gqeberha |
| 3rd Test | October 27–31, 2026 | Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town |
These matches will help Australia adapt to different pitches and conditions across southern Africa, which could play a key role during the World Cup.
Australia’s World Cup Record and Selection Focus
Australia remain one of the most successful teams in international cricket. They won the ODI World Cup in 2023, securing their sixth title in tournament history. Their only T20 World Cup triumph came in 2021 in the UAE.
However, despite strong performances in bilateral series, Australia have sometimes struggled to maintain the same level of success during ICC tournaments.
Australia’s head selector George Bailey recently spoke about this challenge. He noted that the team has achieved a very high win percentage in bilateral series leading up to major tournaments, but those results have not always translated into World Cup success.
According to Bailey, the selectors and team management are continuing to analyze this issue and improve their preparation so that the team can perform consistently on the biggest stage.
The tours of Zimbabwe and South Africa are part of a broader strategy to prepare for the 2027 ODI World Cup. Playing matches in similar conditions will help Australia understand local pitches, weather patterns, and playing environments before the tournament begins.
The fixtures are scheduled across September and October 2026, giving Australia several competitive matches to build momentum before the global event.
Cricket fans can expect an exciting build-up to the 2027 World Cup as Australia begins their preparation with the Zimbabwe ODI series and the South Africa tour.
