Cremer returns from eight-year ODI absence as Zimbabwe elect to bat

Graeme Cremer was recalled to Zimbabwe's one-day side on Sunday, playing his first ODI in eight years as the hosts won the toss and chose to bat.

Cremer came into the side alongside Malcolm Masuku, with the pair replacing Hamilton Masakadza and Mostrong Nyamhuri in the two changes Zimbabwe made to their line-up, according to ESPNcricinfo.

The recall of Cremer, once a mainstay of Zimbabwe's white-ball attack, marks a notable return for a player who had been out of the ODI picture for a lengthy stretch before this fixture against Australia.

Zimbabwe's decision to bowl the incoming pair in for Masakadza and Nyamhuri points to a reshuffle designed to freshen up both the bowling attack and the balance of the side ahead of batting first.

Australia also altered their XI, bringing in Mitchell Johnson and Bartlett in place of Josh Hazlewood and Billy Stanlake, two changes to their bowling resources for the match.

The swap of Hazlewood and Stanlake for Johnson and Bartlett suggests the touring side opted for a different pace combination against a Zimbabwe top order they would have been assessing closely at the toss.

With Zimbabwe electing to bat first, the onus falls on their batting unit to set a total substantial enough to test an Australian attack now featuring Johnson and Bartlett in place of the two withdrawn seamers.

Cremer's presence in the side, restored after such a long gap, is likely to draw particular attention given the length of his absence from the format at international level.

Further details of the contest, including how both sets of changes affected the balance of the two teams as the innings progressed, were not covered in the initial team news reported by ESPNcricinfo.

Attention now turns to how Zimbabwe's revised batting order fares against Australia's adjusted attack, with the outcome of the toss decision to bat first set to be tested through the course of the innings.