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AAP
AAP
Sport
Fraser Barton

Aussies name strong side for opening ODI

Steve Smith will lead a bolstered Australian ODI batting line-up against Zimbabwe in Townsville. (Brendon Thorne/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

Australia ODI captain Aaron Finch has named a strong team for their opening match against Zimbabwe in Townsville, highlighted by a shake-up to the batting order.

Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Steve Smith and Adam Zampa return to the side after missing their final game during the tour to Sri Lanka.

Vice-captain and wicketkeeper Alex Carey has been bumped to No.4 with Smith at first drop, while power-hitter Mitchell Marsh will bat at No.6.

Marnus Labuschagne is the clear omission from the side that will play their first ODI on Australian soil in almost two years before two more matched at Townsville's Riverway Stadium next week.

Finch said he's opted for a side to lengthen their batting and mix up their structure ahead of six ODI's in north Queensland against Zimbabwe and New Zealand.

"The reasoning behind Marnus is we're just going with an allrounder-heavy side, so two quicks plus Zampa, plus Cameron Green as the fourth genuine bowler," Finch said on the eve of their clash.

"Then using Marsh, Stoinis, Maxwell as our fifth bowler effectively.

"It's a way of lengthening our batting and I think it's important that we keep trying to juggle the structure of the team around a little bit over the next little while.

"We don't want to get pigeon-holed into playing in one particular structure of team, so that's that's the reason for it."

The opening ODI of the series on Sunday feature a tribute to Australian cricket legend and Townsville local, Andrew Symonds, who died in May.

Symonds' Test cap number and nickname 'Roy' will be displayed on the field to honour his memory.

Finch welcomed the tributes expected for Symonds.

"A really sad time obviously for Australian cricket over the last little while, it'll be nice to have some tributes and his family here and stuff like that," he said.

"For someone who was so laidback, his depth of knowledge of cricket and players was second-to-none.

"I think the larrikin tag was there but the deep knowledge of the game was outstanding as well.

AUSTRALIA ODI TEAM

Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Steve Smith, Alex Carey (wk), Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood

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