Test cricket's integrity is safe but the same cannot be said for the one-day game, with Australia ready to give Zimbabwe a quick, yet frightful hiding.

Preserving the sanctity of the five-day game by scrapping the two matches between the strongest and weakest Test nations was universally acclaimed as a common-sense move and one respectful to the game's traditions and standards.

But it raised questions over how keen administrators were to do the same to protect the integrity of one-day internationals.

Zimbabwe - all out for a record low 35 against Sri Lanka recently and thumped 5-0 in that series - won't be shown any mercy by Australia.

Australia will leave Zimbabwe after playing three ODIs in Harare on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Even though cricket has acknowledged Zimbabwe is not good enough without its 15 rebel players, International Cricket Council (ICC) guidelines mean every country must visit every other country twice over a decade to play both Tests and one-day matches.

Cricket Australia chairman Bob Merriman said scrapping the Tests still left one-day matches to be played.

"Given that the ICC was looking at the question of the Test matches not being given Test status, that left us in a position under the 10-year plan of having to play the three one-dayers," Merriman said.

"That's very clearly what the ICC were looking forward to and that's what we've followed."

After offering to scrap the Tests, the Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU) sacked the 15 rebels and will again select the side that was thrashed by Sri Lanka.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP