Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo
ZIMBABWE begin their home winter international season with a landmark Test match against South Africa at Queens Sports Club.
It has been nearly a decade since the two giants of African cricket last faced off in a Test match, that game being a four-day encounter in Port Elizabeth in 2017 which only lasted two days.
This is also the first red-ball meeting between the Chevrons and the Proteas on Zimbabwean soil in 11 years, having last faced off in 2014 at Harare Sports Club.
Zimbabwe are yet to win a Test match against South Africa with the latter winning eight of the nine matches played to date. One game ended as a draw.
Team News:
The recently crowned World Test Championship (WTC) champions announced their playing XI on Friday, a youthful inexperienced side that will captained by Keshav Maharaj.
The three debutants are teenager batter, Lhuan-dre Pretorious, Codi Yusuf and Dewald Brevis.
Yusuf comes in as an extra seamer for the Proteas.
Mathew Breetzke, Corbin Bosch, and Kwena Maphaka, who have all played one Test apiece are also part of the inexperienced South Africa side.
The hosts on the other hand, will have Takudzwanashe Kaitano open the batting with Brian Bennett in the absence of the injured Ben Curran.
Nick Welch returns to the starting XI, coming in at number three with the veteran duo of captain Craig Ervine and Sean Williams taking up the number four and five slots.
Wessly Madhevere takes up the number six slot while Tafadzwa Tsiga keeps the wicket, batting at number seven completing the middle order.
The Chevrons have two seamer, premier fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani and Tanaka Chivanga. Wellington Masakadza and Vincent Masekesa are the spin options.
Toss:
Keshav Maharaj won the toss and elected to bat first.
Maharaj: “It’s been a privilege to have the tag of world championships. We’ve gone with the three debutants in Lhuan-Dre Pretorius, Dewald Brevis and Codi Yusuf. We’ve gone with the four pacers and one spinners. Been really good and hard work put in by the coaches for us.”
Ervine: “We’re quite happy to bowl first.
We’re expecting moisture in the wicket, so hopefully we can utilise that. Being in the UK for a whole month, using the Dukes ball, the guys learnt a lot from that. We’ve had a week of really good preparation. I think we’ve played a lot of Test cricket already this year, so hopefully we can show a little bit more consistency. Kaitano comes in for Ben Curran at the top.”
Teams:
Zimbabwe:
Brian Bennett, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Nick Welch, Craig Ervine, Sean Williams, Wessly Madhevere, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Wellington Masakadza, Vincent Masekesa, Blessing Muzarabani, Tanaka Chivanga.
South Africa XI for Zimbabwe Test:
Mathew Breetzke, Tony De Zozi, Wiaan Mulder, David Beddingham, Lhuan-dre Pretorious, Dewald Brevis, Kyle Verreynne, Corbin Bosch, Maharaj, Codi Yusuf, Kwena Maphaka.
