England are set to play a historic Test match at Zimbabwe’s new Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium in Victoria Falls, marking their first Test visit to the country in more than 30 years.
The proposed one-off fixture is expected to be part of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Future Tours Programme covering the 2027 to 2031 period.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has committed in principle to touring Zimbabwe for the Test following discussions with Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) at the ICC’s quarterly meeting in Bali this week.
Although a date is yet to be confirmed, the match is expected to be staged at the Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium, Zimbabwe’s newest international cricket venue, which is scheduled to open next year.
The fixture would be a major occasion for Zimbabwean cricket, bringing one of the world’s leading cricket nations to the iconic Victoria Falls destination for a Test encounter.
The new stadium is also expected to host four matches during the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, which Zimbabwe will co-host with South Africa.
England’s proposed visit follows Zimbabwe’s return to Test cricket against the English side in 2025, when the Chevrons played a one-off Test at Trent Bridge.
That match formed part of Zimbabwe’s tour of England, which also included six white-ball matches in Ireland.
England’s last Test visit to Zimbabwe was in 1996, when the two sides played a two-match series that ended in draws.
The first Test, played in Bulawayo, produced one of the most remarkable finishes in the history of the format, with the scores level at the end of the match.
England needed three runs from the final delivery to win but Nick Knight was run out attempting to complete the third run, resulting in the first tied-scores draw in Test cricket history.
The two teams also drew the second Test, leaving the series level.
The ECB and Zimbabwe Cricket are expected to finalise the fixture as part of discussions on England’s international commitments for the next ICC Future Tours Programme cycle, with the date still to be announced.
– The Guardian/Online Reporter
