Steve Waugh said Australia's tour of Zimbabwe could become a pointless exercise if the African side continue to be without their best players because of a selection dispute.
"If they (Zimbabwe) turn up with the present side they've got now, it will be pretty close to a waste of time," the former Australia captain said in a television interview on Sunday.
Zimbabwe's former captain Heath Streak and 14 other players were sacked on May 10 in a dispute over the all-rounder's removal as skipper and the composition of the selection panel.
Top-ranked Australia departed for Africa on Thursday and will play a three-day match against Zimbabwe A in Harare on Monday. The first Test starts there on May 22.
"There's no doubt Australia will win the series easily if they (Zimbabwe) don't change their current line-up," said Waugh, who retired in January 2004 as the most-capped player in Test cricket.
"But I think Australian teams have always been motivated by a challenge. I don't think they would play as well as they normally play, against a side like that.
"They would much rather play against a full-strength side and that would get the best out of their skills," the 38-year-old added.
