Aussies bowl first in second ODI, Agar in for injured Marsh

Australia have recalled Ashton Agar for the second Dettol ODI against Zimbabwe in Townsville, with the left-arm spinner coming in for the injured Mitch Marsh.

Australian captain Aaron Finch won the toss and elected to bowl on Wednesday, just as they did in the first match of the series.

The Australian camp confirmed on Tuesday that Marsh would be returning home to Perth to nurse a sore ankle ahead of the T20 tour of India and crucially, the T20 World Cup in October.

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

Zimbabwe XI: Innocent Kaia, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Sean Williams, Wessly Madhevere, Tony Munyonga, Sikandar Raza, Regis Chakabva (c), Ryan Burl, Luke Jongwe, Bradley Evans, Richard Ngarava

Agar returns to the XI after a side injury ruled him out of the final four ODIs and the Test series in Sri Lanka, with Australia opting for a pace-heavy attack in the series opener on Sunday, which they won by five wickets. 

Steve Smith said the loss of Marsh was a big one but full fitness for the T20 World Cup is the priority. 

"The way we set up our team the other day with bulk allrounders, he was a big part of that," Smith told reporters on Tuesday.

"It's disappointing for Mitch but there's some pretty important stuff coming up.

"He was a big part of our T20 World Cup campaign last year and I'm sure there's big plans for him this year.

"The priority is to get him right for that."

As confirmed by Zimbabwe coach Dave Houghton on Tuesday, veteran allrounder Sean Williams returns for the visitors. 

He was a late out on the morning of the first match on Sunday after experiencing bruising on his right elbow after being hit in the nets. 

Fast bowler Victor Nyauchi makes way for Williams after bowling five overs in Australia's innings on Sunday.

Australia cruised to victory in the opening ODI, chasing down Zimbabwe's 200 all out with more than 16 overs to spare after choosing to bowl first in windy and overcast conditions.

But clear and sunny conditions greeted the two captains at the toss on Wednesday with Australia looking to take an unassailable 2-0 in the three-match series.

Men's Dettol ODI Series v Zimbabwe

First ODI: Australia won by five wickets

Wednesday Aug 31: Riverway Stadium, Townsville, 9:40am

Saturday Sep 3: Riverway Stadium, Townsville, 9:40am

Australia squad: Aaron Finch, Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa.

Zimbabwe squad: Ryan Burl, Regis Chakabva (c), Bradley Evans, Luke Jongwe, Innocent Kaia, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Clive Madande, Wessly Madhevere, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Tony Munyonga, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Victor Nyauchi, Sikandar Raza, Sean Williams.

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