Follow UsAustralia have announced their playing XI for the first One-Day International (ODI) against Zimbabwe slated to be played on Sunday (August 28) in Townsville.
Steven Smith gets a look in ahead of Marnus Labucahagne, with Finch also confirming that Alex Carey will play at four and Mitchell Marsh will play as a floater in the middle-order. Finch said that the main reason for that is that Australia have opted to go in with an all-rounder-heavy side.
Australia's XI otherwise was more or less full-strength. This is the first time the two teams are facing off since 2014 and will also mark Zimbabwe's first tour of Australia since 2004.
"The reasoning behind Marnus (missing out) is we're just going with an all-rounder-heavy side," Finch told Cricket.com.au.
"Two quicks plus Zampa and Cameron Green as the fourth genuine bowler. And then using Marsh, (Marcus) Stoinis, (Glenn) Maxwell as our fifth bowler effectively.
"It's a way of lengthening our batting, and I think it's important we keep trying to juggle the structure of the team around a bit over the next little while.
"We don't want to get pigeonholed into playing in one particular structure of team."
Adam Zampa returns to the fold after missing the Sri Lanka tour due to the birth of his child, while Test skipper Pat Cummins has been rested for this and the ODIs against New Zealand to be fresh for the T20 World Cup and the summer ahead.
All three Australia-Zimbabwe ODIs will be played in Townsville on August 28, 31 and September 3. The Aussies will then welcome the Blackcaps to their shores for yet another three-match ODI series, all to be played in Cairns on September 6, 8 and 11.
Australia's XI for first ODI vs Zimbabwe: Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Steven Smith, Alex Carey (wk), Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood