Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo, Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE’S long awaited return to the elite red ball stage begins in earnest this week, with the Chevrons set to face a County Select XI in a four-day warm up match, starting Thursday, at the Uptonsteel County Ground in Leicester, a crucial precursor to their historic Test showdown against England at Trent Bridge.
The match, scheduled to run until Sunday, forms a key part of Zimbabwe’s preparations and acclimatisation ahead of the high profile, one-off Test, their first in England in over two decades.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has named a strong County Select XI to take on the Chevrons.
Middlesex spin bowling all-rounder Josh De Caires, son of former England captain Mike Atherton, will captain the 13-man side. De Caires, 23, will lead a squad featuring several rising stars and guided by a high-profile coaching team that includes England Lions head coach Paul Collingwood, former England women’s keeper Sarah Taylor, and recuperating Test pacer Mark Wood, who is working his way back from knee surgery.
De Caires will be joined by Warwickshire all-rounder Dan Mousley, who made his England white-ball debut during last year’s Caribbean tour, and Yorkshire leg-spinner Jafer Chohan, who was selected for the same trip but is yet to earn his first cap.
The squad also includes players with recent national youth captaincy experience, Essex all-rounder Luc Benkenstein and Somerset wicketkeeper-batter Thomas Rew, the younger brother of James Rew, who was last week drafted into England’s Test squad as a replacement for the injured, Jordan Cox.
Collingwood will oversee preparations, supported by Taylor and Wood, alongside coaches Neil Killeen, whose son Mitch Killeen is part of the squad, Mike Yardy, and Neil McKenzie, the former South African batter.
Speaking to Sky Sports last week, Wood expressed excitement over his coaching involvement in the County Select XI match and upcoming England Lions fixtures against India, saying:
“I’m exploring what comes next to see if I’m a natural, to see if I’m any good, and if I enjoy it.”
Meanwhile, the Chevrons have hit the ground running since arriving in England, holding their first training session on Monday.
The tour marks Zimbabwe’s first red-ball appearance in England since 2003, making the upcoming warm-up more than just a tune up, it’s a symbolic return to the big stage.
Following the England Test, Zimbabwe will face South Africa in another four-day clash from June 3-6 at Arundel, a match that serves as key preparation for the Proteas ahead of their ICC World Test Championship Final against
Australia at Lord’s from June 11-15.
County Select XI to Face Zimbabwe:
Josh De Caires (capt), Archie Bailey, Luc Benkenstein, Jafer Chohan, Ben Dawkins, Alex Green, Eddie Jack, Mitch Killeen, Ben Mayes, Seb Morgan, Dan Mousley, Thomas Rew, Jamal Richards.
