Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo
IT’S GAME ON at Queens Sports Club as Zimbabwe and New Zealand lock horns this morning in the first of a two-match Test series that promises fireworks.
This is the first red-ball meeting between the two nations since 2016, when the Blackcaps whitewashed the Chevrons 2-0 — at the very same venue in Bulawayo.
Heading into this clash, history favours New Zealand, who have won 11 of the 17 Test encounters, with Zimbabwe still searching for their first win over the Oceanic giants. Six matches have ended in draws.
But this time, Zimbabwe have a point to prove.
Team news:
The Chevrons are strengthened by the return of Sikandar Raza, Brian Bennett and Ben Curran, while New Zealand are missing key men Glenn Phillips and skipper Tom Latham due to injury.
White-ball captain Mitch Santner leads the visitors.
Toss drama:
Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine won the toss and chose to bat first.
“We want to get runs on the board and bring our spinners into the game later,” said Ervine.
“Sometimes we went into a shell a little bit against South Africa, so we want the batters to play with intent.”
ZIMBABWE XI:
Brian Bennett, Ben Curran, Nick Welch, Sean Williams, Craig Ervine (c), Sikandar Raza, Tafadzwa Tsiga (wk), Newman Nyamhuri, Vincent Masekesa, Blessing Muzarabani, Tanaka Chivanga
NEW ZEALAND XI:
Devon Conway, Will Young, Henry Nicholls, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (wk), Michael Bracewell, Mitch Santner (c), Nathan Smith, Matt Henry, Will O’Rourke
