Online Reporter
ZIMBABWE are set to return to the Test arena today when they host New Zealand at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo seeking to recover from recent disappointments.
The Chevrons have played seven Tests this year, the joint-most with Australia.
But with six losses and just one win, they have the worst record for any team.
Moreover, they are yet to beat New Zealand in Test cricket. Of the 17 Tests against New Zealand, they have lost 11 and drawn six.
The last time New Zealand played a Test was in December 2024, against England in Hamilton.
Given that this two-match series against Zimbabwe doesn’t count towards the World Test Championship, they can take their time to reacquaint themselves with the flow and rhythm of red-ball cricket.
Having said that, this is a slightly weakened New Zealand side. They are without captain Tom Latham, former captain Kane Williamson and all-rounders Glenn Phillips and Kyle Jamieson.
Williamson is unavailable for the series, having signed a deal with Middlesex, which includes playing for London Spirit in the Hundred; Jamieson is at home, awaiting the birth of his first child; Latham is yet to recover from a shoulder injury he picked up during the Vitality Blast and Phillips is sidelined with a groin injury he picked up during the MLC.
In Latham’s absence, Mitchell Santner will lead the side. He has plenty of experience captaining New Zealand in ODIs and T20Is, but this will be a first for him in first-class cricket, let alone Test cricket.
Recently, an understrength South Africa proved to be too good for Zimbabwe. But for this series, they are bolstered by the returns of all-rounder Sikandar Raza and opener Ben Curran.
Raza lends the much-needed balance and experience and Curran should add the solidity at the top.
Brendan Taylor’s ban has also ended but he has not been named in the squad yet.
Sean Williams has been easily the best Zimbabwe batter this year. In seven Tests, he has scored 577 at an average of 52.45 and a strike rate of 76.83.
Only Shubman Gill (755) and Rishabh Pant (580) have scored more Test runs than him in 2025. One thing he would like to improve, though, is his conversion rate.
Of his five 50-plus scores this year, he converted only one into a hundred.
The man to watch in the Black Caps is Matt Henry, whose overall Test record — 120 wickets at an average of 29.84 –, however does not scream elite.
But scratch beneath that and you realise why Henry is rated so highly. When he opens the bowling, his record becomes 105 wickets at 24.11.
Last year, he picked up 48 wickets in nine Tests at an average of 18.58 and a strike rate of 33.97. Among the top ten wicket-takers of 2024, only Jasprit Bumrah had a better average (14.92) and a strike rate (30.1). It will not be surprising if Henry continues from where he left off. — Cricinfo/Sports Reporter.
