Online Reporter
IT has been long in coming.
But now it is here and the rare cricket Test between England and Zimbabwe will become a reality next week and the Chevrons visit the British with a once off encounter starting on May 22.
In playing against Zimbabwe, England will start their 2025 summer cricket programme during which they will also play rivals Australia in the fabled Ashes.
The two sides will meet in a one-off four-day Test match at Trent Bridge.
It will be the first Test match between the two teams since 2003, and the first bilateral series between the two sides in any format since 2004.
One would have to dig into the archives to check which players were featuring for either side when the two teams last played against each as 21 years is such a lengthy period for athletes when one can begin his career, see it reach its peak and even then, eventually, call time on it.
Reports that the match has generated huge excitement among cricket enthusiasts, administrators, coaches and players are very encouraging signs especially for the visitors as it is common knowledge that Test matches between Zimbabwe’s and global cricket’s big boys are few and far between.
According to reports from England, The highly-anticipated Test match has seen an overwhelming response, with 30,000 tickets already sold.
As the cricket enthusiasts gear up for this potentially exciting match-up, the England Cricket Board have indicated via their website that tickets are selling fast for this match, suggesting a high demand.
Such excitations should serve to spur on the Chevrons and we believe they have the pedigree to live up to expectations. They have already received a big vote of confidence from their coach Dave Houghton.
At the peak of his playing powers, Houghton captained the Chevrons against England.
It was during an era when Zimbabwe played with regularity against Australia, England, West Indies, India, South Africa and New Zealand.
After his playing days were over, Houghton would go on to spend close to two decades coaching club and county cricket in England.
He was also recently in charge of the Chevrons.
In fact, Houghton was the national team coach having been appointed in June 2023.
He then resigned as the head coach of Zimbabwe’s national cricket team, following the Chevrons’ failure to qualify for the 2024 T20 World Cup.
His resignation came after a 2-0 ODI series defeat to Ireland on home soil.
Despite having left the Chevrons job, Houghton’s experience in coaching both in England and Zimbabwe makes him an authoritative voice on a match of the magnitude of the upcoming Test at Trent Bridge.
In his pre-match views, he gave an insight of what the Chevrons need to expect when the face the Three lions next week.
“Normally the first test of the summer is dominated by seam bowling.
“This year the weather has been totally different. Very little rain in the last 6 weeks and none expected any time soon. Warmer than normal too with highs of up to 27 degrees Celsius at times,’’ Houghton said.
For the majority of Zimbabweans back home, the expectations are that the Chevrons will not suffer a humiliating defeat at Trent Bridge.
That both teams have been boosted by the commitment of their top players, who include Sikanda Raza for Zimbabwe and Ben Stokes for the home team, should add to the excitement.
Raza has been in blistering form, scoring 228 runs at a strike rate of 163, and taking eight wickets at just over 15 apiece.
His all-round brilliance helped Lahore Qalandars hang on to fourth place despite the Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) mid-season suspension.
But now, it’s all eyes on Trent Bridge as Raza will be expected to be one of the Chevrons’ leading lights.
And agree with Houghton in the belief and confidence that the Chevrons have a fighting chance, if only they quickly adjust to a surprising twist in English weather conditions.
We also believe that it is Zimbabwe, who are more under scrutiny as they seek to convince the doubters that they are ready for more Test matches.
And we believe that the Chevrons can seize the opportunity and live up to the pre-match billing.
They have been driven by some lively and noisy crowds at Queens and Harare Sports Clubs in Bulawayo and the capital when they play at home and the more than 30 000 strong crowd expected at Trent Bridge should have a huge Zimbabwean presence which should suit the visitors too.
Their coach Justin Sammons may have spoken for everyone when described the feeling among the Chevrons as “Super Excited’’.
The return to England comes at a time when Zimbabwe are rebuilding their red-ball programme, coming hard on the heels of a hard-fought one-all series draw against Bangladesh.
“It’s why you play the game. You want to play against the best and, obviously, England are one of the best Test teams in the world,” Sammons said.
