Australia v Zimbabwe ODI series: Alex Carey says Townsville series chance to honour Andrew Symonds

Andrew Symonds will be at the forefront of Australian players’ minds as they look to honour the late cricket champion with an ODI victory in his hometown.

Tim David of the Hurricanes bats during the Men's Big Bash League match between the Hobart Hurricanes and the Melbourne Stars at Blundstone Arena, on December 24, 2021, in Hobart, Australia. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

Alex Carey says Australia’s one-day players are determined to pay Andrew Symonds a fitting tribute with a win over Zimbabwe in the former international star’s home city.

Australia will play an international match for the first time in Townsville on Sunday, with two more matches against the East African nation to follow next Wednesday and Saturday.

Symonds, who played 26 Test matches, 198 One-Day Internationals, and 14 T20Is between 1998 and 2009, died in a single-vehicle crash north of Townsville on May 14.

This will be the first international since Symonds’ untimely passing at the age of 46 and Carey said a win would be the perfect way to honour him.

“I think it’s really important,” he said about starting the Australian summer of cricket in Townsville.

“I think it’s great for the game, it’s great for the fans, and hopefully we see a lot of faces here on Sunday.

“I think it will also be a great way to start the summer in honouring a legend in Andrew Symonds up here in his backyard.

“His death was obviously sad and an opportunity for us here to pay our respects in a way.

“Some guys had some close relationships as well with him. So, as I said, I think it’s a fitting way to start the summer.”

The Australians want to honour local favourite Andrew Symonds with a win in Townsville.

Former Australian cricketer Andrew Symonds at home in Townsville. Barra fishing on the Ross River. Photo Mark Cranitch.

While Australia will go into the three-game series in Townsville and a three-match series in Cairns as favourites to beat Zimbabwe, Carey, said the home team would not be taking them lightly, particularly after their 2-1 series win over Bangladesh earlier this month.

Zimbabwe chased down 303 and 290 with five wickets left before losing the final game by 101 runs to show they will be no pushovers and Carey says the Aussies want to hit the ground running with the World Cup in India in 14 months.

“We’re keen to start the summer well,” he said.

“A lot of guys have played some cricket overseas over the last couple of weeks. Some guys have come off some pre-seasons back home so it will be great to get out here today and start preparations leading into Sunday.

“We have six games pretty close back-to-back, so it’s a good way to kick off.

“Keeping in mind we’ve got a World Cup just over 12 months away. So some good cricket now in the one-day format is what we’re after.

“There are some early starts, so we’ll have to prepare well, and Zimbabwe are coming off some form.

Alex Carey says playing in Townsville is a fitting tribute to Symonds.

“They knocked off Bangladesh recently, so we will do our research and prepare accordingly.”

Josh Inglis has not been named in this 14-man squad but he, alongside several wicketkeeper batters, will be keeping Carey on his toes in the next few months.

The South Australian, who is vice-captain to Aaron Finch along with Josh Hazlewood, said he did not feel pressure to keep his place, but would continue to work on his game.

“I’m more focused on my game and how I can continue to improve and it’s another good opportunity here and starting the summer up here in Townsville,” he said.

“You are going to have players from all around the country putting their hands up, and we’ve got a great stock of wicketkeeper batters around the country.

“There are several other guys as well as Josh who are improving their game and it’s up to me to continue to evolve and develop my game and try to be the best I can.”

AUSSIES TO UNLEASH X-FACTOR IN WORLD CUP SHAKE-UP

Ben Horne

Australia are set to unveil six-hitting phenomenon Tim David as their World Cup x-factor next week in a bold move which is likely to cost Mitchell Swepson his place in the squad.

Selectors are yet to finalise their 15-man squad for October’s blockbuster tournament on home soil, but the expectation is the vast majority of players who famously lifted the World crown for the first time last year will be backed in to defend it.

Middle-order power-hitter David is the one clear exception and is poised to burst into the squad after building an irresistible case in franchise cricket around the world this year.

World Cup squads need to be confirmed to the ICC by the end of next week and David is an addition who will have rival teams looking over their shoulder and feeling that the defending champions may have just added another dimension to an already formidable arsenal.

But to most Australian fans, David is still somewhat of a mystery man given he doesn’t hold a state contract, is uncapped for Australia and has really only made a name for himself in overseas leagues.

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Tim David, pictured in action for Southern Brave during The Hundred, has made a name for himself in overseas leagues. Picture: Getty Images

Although no final decisions have been made, the Singapore-born Hobart Hurricane is likely to replace leg-spinner Swepson in the squad because in Australian conditions there will be no need for three spinners as there was when the tournament was played on turning decks in the UAE.

Swepson didn’t get a game in the UAE last year in any case and Australia will be comfortable their top two spinners Adam Zampa and Ashton Agar will provide the flexibility and options they need on local decks where the pace attack will be key.

Tim David is seeing them well tonight! #BBL11pic.twitter.com/HUvweZwsaj

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 18, 2022

It’s a fairly logical selection move to get in the extra batsman, however, actually slotting David into the starting XI will bring about some much bigger headaches down the track.

David has been compared to West Indian behemoth Keiron Pollard for his extraordinary strike power in the late overs, and has been described by rivals as almost impossible to bowl to.

As revealed by News Corp, David – with a heavy heart – told Australian selectors he felt he should decline a chance to make his Australian international debut against Sri Lanka back in February, because it would have cost him the Pakistan Super League and possibly the IPL and with no state contract to fall back on that was his livelihood and also best chance to put his name up in lights for the World Cup.

Tim David smashed 4 consecutive sixes in the T20 blast - 31(11). pic.twitter.com/Z0fUCjtU1w

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) June 17, 2022

Tim David, pictured in action for Lancashire Lightning an irresistible case in franchise cricket around the world this year. Picture: Getty Images

Australian selectors were pragmatic enough to see the mutual benefits in what he was saying and it’s turned out to be a masterstroke – with David registering one of the most dominant IPL seasons in history after picking up a $1.5 million contract in the auction off the back of an equally mesmerising PSL.

There is a chance Australia will make no other changes from last year’s World Cup squad, although Nathan Ellis may push incumbent seamer Kane Richardson hard.

Both bowlers are starring in The Hundred at the moment and Australia have for years highly valued Richardson’s skill set as a death bowler in the T20 format.

But Ellis has been one of the big improvers in Australian cricket this year having won the T20 blast competition in the UK and if he misses out on the 15-man squad he will almost certainly feature as a reserve player.

Ben McDermott also looms as a reserve player, but probably hasn’t done enough to knock an established batsman out of the squad.

Originally published as Australia v Zimbabwe ODI series: Alex Carey says Townsville series chance to honour Andrew Symonds