Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
NATIONAL selectors are facing a backlash from cricket fans after Vincent Masekesa was left out of Zimbabwe’s squad for this month’s landmark one-off Test against England, despite starring with a five-wicket haul on debut against Bangladesh.
The 22-year-old leg spinner produced a match-defining performance last week in Mirpur, reviving hopes that Zimbabwe had finally unearthed a genuine attacking wrist spinner for the longer format. But his name was conspicuously missing from the 15-man squad named for the historic clash at Trent Bridge.
Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) opted instead for seasoned left-arm spinner Wellington Masakadza, prompting heated reactions from the cricket community, with fans and analysts taking to X (formerly Twitter) to express disbelief and disappointment.
Selectors and team management offered no explanation at the time of the squad announcement, leaving many to question the criteria used in finalising the touring party.
Merovaeous wrote, “Imagine being Vincent Masekesa, who on debut took a fifer against a decent-quality Bangladeshi side. Has decent varieties, Wrong’uns and Googlies in the armour. Yet he gets dropped for Newman Nyamhuri, with nine wickets in the last 10 domestic matches and four wickets in the last five Test innings.”
Sisa Ncube added, “I can bet you right now. Wellington won’t play. Zim will go with four seamers. I hope they don’t drop Victor Nyauchi from the starting XI. Masekesa was sacrificed for their boys. It’s pathetic! Really shameful! Shame on you, Zimbabwe Cricket.”
Maita Dziva weighed in: “I’m so sorry, Masekesa, for not being picked after you got a five-wicket haul. But Zimbabwe Cricket inosekesa hayo (is a joke). This is just not fair to the young man. No, man!!!”
The cricketologist noted, “Masekesa and Wellington played in the same match, and we had a chance to compare the two. Masekesa was tops with a fifer. Yes, conditions in England are different, but pick the spinner who takes wickets.”
Renowned cricket voice Dean Du Plessis tweeted, “A leg-spinner gets a fifer on Test debut, then gets left out as the selectors choose to go with an overrated, innocuous left-arm spinner. It will be up to you to interpret what that means. Conditions may be different, but surely players should be rewarded when they perform?”
Mayor of Kwekwe (Bxllyville) commented: “In Zimbabwe, getting a fifer gets you dropped. Now bowlers are going to be scared of producing master-classes because you immediately become a threat to you-know-who.”
Daniel Sson85 questioned, “Nyamhuri? On what exactly? Gwandu? On what exactly? Drop Masekesa, but retain Welly? The sheer lack of mental player management is killing our ridiculous.”
The eagerly awaited Test, Zimbabwe’s first on English soil in 21 years, is scheduled for May 22–25 at Trent Bridge and forms part of renewed efforts to reintegrate Zimbabwe into top-tier red ball competition.
The team will then take on South Africa in a four-day match at Arundel from June 3–6, which is expected to serve as the final warm-up for the Proteas ahead of the World Test Championship final against Australia at Lord’s from June 11–15. The Zimbabwe squad is due to fly out on Friday to begin acclimatising in English conditions.
ZIMBABWE TEST SQUAD FOR ENGLAND TOUR:
Craig Ervine (Captain), Brian Bennett, Ben Curran, Trevor Gwandu, Clive Madande, Wessly Madhevere, Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Newman Nyamhuri, Victor Nyauchi, Sikandar Raza, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Nicholas Welch, Sean Williams
