\ufeffWatch Zimbabwe vs Australia ODI Series Live & Exclusive on Fox Cricket, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.<\/a><\/p>\n The stylish left-hander smacked four fours and three sixes in his innings of 51 from 46 balls, getting Australia off to a solid start before Matt Renshaw\u2019s maiden ODI century ensured the visitors\u2019 posted a formidable total.<\/p>\n After scoring his maiden ODI ton – a match-winning 149 against Bangladesh in Mirpur in June – opening the batting, Connolly is now occupying the No.3 position in Australia\u2019s 50-over side with Travis Head and Mitch Marsh\u2019s return to the team prompting a shift to first drop.<\/p>\n It is the spot he might take in the Test side.<\/p>\n Incumbent No.3 Marnus Labuschagne retained his place in Australia\u2019s 16-man squad but his place in the team is in doubt with Australian legend Ricky Ponting declaring during last month\u2019s Top End series against Bangladesh that the Queenslander\u2019s position is \u201calmost untenable\u201d given his struggles<\/a>.<\/p>\n Connolly\u2019s sole Test appearance came batting at No.8, while supporting spinners Nathan Lyon and Matt Kuhnemann with his left arm tweakers on a turning track in Galle.<\/p>\n But Australia\u2019s chairman of selectors George Bailey insisted when speaking to reporters after announcing the Test squad earlier this month that Connolly has been chosen as a batter<\/a>.<\/p>\n He also suggested that Connolly is capable of batting at No.3 for Australia \u201cwhether that\u2019s now, whether that\u2019s in the future\u201d.<\/p>\n Australia’s Cooper Connolly raises his bat on reaching 50 runs during the first One Day International series played between hosts Zimbabwe and Australia at Harare Sports Club on September 15, 2026 in Harare. (Photo by Jekesai NJIKIZANA \/ AFP)Source: AFP<\/p>\n The West Australian will jump at any opportunity to break into Pat Cummins\u2019 Test XI, but in all but two of his 21 first-class innings has occupied a position between No.5 and No.8 in the batting order.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I get the opportunity, I\u2019ll try to make the most of it, and whether that\u2019s at three or it\u2019s in the middle order, I\u2019m more than happy to play in either position,\u201d Connolly told media on the eve of Friday\u2019s second ODI in Harare. <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a strong Test squad and they\u2019ve been strong for a long period of time. It\u2019s just about trying to learn as much as possible from guys of like Smudge (Steve Smith) and \u2018Heady\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n Those two pillars of Australia\u2019s batting order may hold the key to fitting Connolly into the Test puzzle.<\/p>\n The youngster is modelling his game on Head, and since the South Australian made to the top of the order during last summer\u2019s Ashes series, the Australians have felt the absence of an aggressive, counter-attacker in the middle order.<\/p>\n Cameron Green was excellent against Bangladesh in Head\u2019s old spot of No.5.<\/p>\n Green compiled a maiden hundred on Australian soil in a losing effort in Darwin before being the only batter to reach fifty in the two-day bowler blitz in Mackay.<\/p>\n But a promotion could be in order.<\/p>\n Renshaw and Ellis power Australia | 03:45<\/p>\n David Warner told Code Sports last week that \u201cSmudge will bat three\u201d in South Africa and the Fox Cricket commentator could be on the money.<\/p>\n That would mean Smith moving to No.3, Green shifting up to No.4 – where he scored a career best 174* in New Zealand when Smith briefly opened the batting in 2024 – and Connolly slotting in at No.5 with Labuschagne losing his place.<\/p>\n If Connolly, who is yet to score a first-class century, can continue to learn from Head, it could be the best fit.<\/p>\n \u201cI probably get into Heady\u2019s brain a little bit because I feel like I play a similar way in red-ball cricket to him,\u201d Connolly said.<\/p>\n \u201cSo just understanding how he goes about it and how he reads the game. I think over the last two or three years I\u2019ve sort of understood his game a little bit more as I\u2019ve played with him a little bit longer.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just taking the learnings from everyone in the group, the people that have played a lot of Test cricket for Australia, and understanding what it\u2019s like to play in all these different conditions when I\u2019m on these tours.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s about understanding and learning more and more of other players \u2013 you start to bring in things that they use that might work for your game.\u201d<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/p>\n \ufeffSmith\u2019s emotional admission… on \u2018traumatic\u2019 Sandpaper-gate moment that still haunts him<\/a><\/p>\n \ufeffCummins\u2019 blunt take on Aussie Test nightmare… and what he expects in Sandpaper reunion<\/a><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1789704139_836_poster-fallback.png\"\/)
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