Australia’s ODI series against Zimbabwe might be six weeks away, but that hasn’t stopped them from naming a strong squad for their top end fixtures late next month.

Aaron Finch will lead the 14-man squad against Zimbabwe for the series, which gets underway on August 28 at Riverway Stadium.

The series will be followed by three matches against New Zealand at Cazalys Stadium in Cairns.

The squad is close to full strength, with Test captain Pat Cummins the only genuine starter missing as he continues to be “managed through a period of rehabilitation and physical preparation for the upcoming summer”.

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Travis Head, who enjoyed a wonderful white ball tour of Pakistan and then injured his hamstring against Sri Lanka, will miss the series with the dashing left-hander expecting his first child.

Meanwhile, Australia’s selectors have picked just the one keeper with Alex Carey preferred ahead of Josh Inglis.

Spinners Mitchell Swepson and Matthew Kuhnemann, as well as quick Jhye Richardson, have been left out given the change in conditions from the subcontinent.

World class spinner Adam Zampa returns following the arrival of his first child, while left-arm spinner Ashton Agar (side strain) and bowling all-rounder Sean Abbott (broken finger) rejoin the squad.

“These series against New Zealand, the world’s no.1 ranked ODI side, and Zimbabwe will be good contests and provide an opportunity to play some great cricket in the lead up to the home summer,” National Selection Panel chair George Bailey said in a statement.

“The team is excited to be marking the start of a huge summer with these matches in North Queensland.”

While the six fixtures hold little importance, for players like Finch, who have struggled in recent years, the matches will be a golden chance to find form ahead of the T20 World Cup in Australia.

The 35-year-old showed signs he was coming out of his lean period against Sri Lanka but ended the series with consecutive ducks to once again put the spotlight on the hard-hitting opener.

Next year’s ODI World Cup in India is on the horizon, too.

All-rounder Cameron Green, prolific Test batters Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith have chances to further cement their places in the squad.