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Aussies savaged over 'putrid' act in first ODI against Zimbabwe

Sam Goodwin
·Sports Editor
·4-min read
Aussie players, pictured here during the first cricket ODI against Zimbabwe in Townsville.
Aussie players look on during the first cricket ODI against Zimbabwe in Townsville. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images) (Getty Images)

Australia have been savaged by cricket fans over an embarrassing moment early in their ODI clash with Zimbabwe in Townsville after Aaron Finch opted to use the DRS for an lbw decision.

Zimbabwe made it to 0-36 after the first 10 overs in the first of three ODIs after Finch won the toss and elected to bowl on Sunday.

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The Aussies were left highly frustrated after failing to make any early breakthroughs against the tourists - and the frustration showed when Finch opted for a shocking lbw review.

After Cameron Green struck Innocent Kaia on the pads, the on-field umpire turned down their appeals for lbw.

The ball appeared to be travelling well down leg-side, but Finch opted to use the DRS after a discussion with Green and wicket-keeper Alex Carey.

Replays then showed the ball to be missing the stumps by a mile, leaving the Aussies highly embarrassed.

Fox Sports commentator Brenton Speed labelled the review a "shocking" one, while fans were quick to slam the comical scenes on social media.

Luckily for the hosts they managed to dismiss Kaia not long after, with Mitch Marsh taking a good caught and bowled to send the opener on his way for 17 off 40 balls.

Marnus Labuschagne dropped for first ODI

After opting to bowl first, Finch said he was eager to see how the wicket shaped up in the first ODI ever played in Townsville with some moisture in the pitch and windy and overcast conditions.

Australia went with all-rounder-heavy lineup with two genuine quicks in Josh Hazelwood and Mitchell Starc, Green as a third pace option and Adam Zampa as the sole specialist spinner.

Mitchell Marsh, Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell are the fifth bowling options.

However there was no room for Marnus Labuschagne, with the batter dropped after Australia's last ODI series in Sri Lanka.

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

Innocent Kaia, pictured here after his dismissal in the first ODI between Australia and Zimbabwe.
Innocent Kaia walks off after his dismissal in the first ODI between Australia and Zimbabwe. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images) (Ian Hitchcock via Getty Images)

"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 the 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."

Carey has been bumped to No.4 in the batting order with Steve Smith at first drop.

with AAP

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