SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 22: Mitchell Starc of Australia (L) celebrates with Steve Smith (C) and Pat Cummins (R) after taking the wicket of Umar Akmal of Pakistan during game four of the One Day International series between Australia and Pakistan at Sydney Cricket Ground on January 22, 2017 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Australia will begin its first home One Day International series since 2020 on Sunday as they take on Zimbabwe in Townsville.

Straight after that three-match series, they will play another against New Zealand in Cairns.

With a World Cup just next year, these matches have increased significance as each side looks to hit top form.

Here are all the big talking points

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1. Can Aaron Finch find form?

TOPSHOT - Australia's captain Aaron Finch looks on in the field during the 2019 Cricket World Cup second semi-final between England and Australia at Edgbaston in Birmingham, central England, on July 11, 2019. (Photo by Dibyangshu Sarkar / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo credit should read DIBYANGSHU SARKAR/AFP/Getty Images)

While the Australian white-ball captain looked better in the recent away T20s against Sri Lanka with two important 40s, he remains firmly out of sorts in ODIs.

From eight matches this year he has an average of just 17.88 with only one fifty. At times he has looked completely out of sorts, falling for four ducks including two in the last two games.

For so long, Australia has been able to rely on he and David Warner to set the tone at the start of an innings with their aggressive style.

We have begun to see that when one or both of them fall early, too much pressure is often placed upon a less aggressive middle order of Smith, Labuschagne and Marsh.

There has been some talk that Finch may retire after this year's T20 World Cup, allowing the likes of Travis Head, Ben McDermott or even Josh Phillippe the chance to open.

If Finch continues to fail in these two series, that may be the only option.

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