Zealand at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo today.
The hosts have won one of the two Test matches they have played since returning to the big timer.
Zimbabwe have also only won one Test match, out of the 18 they have played at Queens, losing 10 and drawing seven.
Their only win at Queens, as was the case with their only victory since their return to Test arena, was against Bangladesh in 2001.
Zimbabwe and New Zealand have played 13 Tests against each other and the hosts have lost seven and drawn six. Zimbabwe wicket-keeper/batsman Tatenda Taibu has been ruled out due to injury and, given his experience and the touch he showed in the last ODI, this is a big blow. Taibu is nursing a finger injury that got worse in the third ODI. The duo of all-rounder Malcolm Waller and seamer Njabulo Ncube have been picked and are expected to make their Test debut.
The Black Caps have been bolstered by the arrival of Daniel Vettori who too 3-35 in the warm-up game against Zimbabwe A.
“Daniel Vettori’s arrival is a big boost for (New Zealand), but we’ll look to bat long and if we can take the game deep into day five then anything can happen,” said Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor.
Zimbabwe competed well in the first three days against Pakistan but then suffered a sensational second innings collapse to hand the visitors victory. Black Caps’ Jesse Ryder will, however, miss the final leg of the New Zealand tour after he suffered a right calf strain. New Zealand would be playing their first Test game since hosting Pakistan at the beginning of the year but they have not won a Test since February last year when they beat Bangladesh.
They have not won a Test in the past five games where they have drawn three times and lost twice and they are hoping to get their act together, once more, before taking on Australia next month.
Taylor has been impressive for Zimbabwe but, on what is expected to be a flat pitch perfect for batting, the shortcomings of their attack could be severely exposed by the Black Caps.
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