Black Caps Launch Test Series Against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo

The Black Caps faced Zimbabwe in the first Test of a two-match series held in Bulawayo, marking their return to the format after more than seven months. This match is significant for the New Zealand team, as they have a strong historical record against Zimbabwe, having never lost a Test to them in their 17 encounters since 1992.

With key players absent, including Kane Williamson due to participation in the Hundred T20 tournament and Glenn Phillips sidelined by a groin injury, the Black Caps made several adjustments to their lineup. Michael Bracewell was brought in as a replacement for Phillips, while Tom Latham was expected to lead the side but was ruled out due to a shoulder injury. This paved the way for Mitchell Santner to captain the team for the first time in a Test match.

Aside from these notable omissions, the squad largely resembles the one that played against England in December 2023. Devon Conway returned to the team after missing the third Test against England for the birth of his child. The squad also welcomed Matthew Fisher, a fast bowler from Northern Districts, who is anticipated to compete for a bowling position alongside Nathan Smith and Jacob Duffy.

Zimbabwe, led by captain Craig Ervine, has faced challenges recently, suffering four consecutive defeats, three of which were by an innings. Their last Test match was against South Africa earlier this month, where they struggled against the Proteas’ captain, Wiann Mulder, who scored an impressive 367 runs before the declaration.

The Black Caps squad consists of:
– Mitchell Santner (captain)
– Tom Blundell
– Devon Conway
– Jacob Duffy
– Matthew Fisher
– Matt Henry
– Daryl Mitchell
– Henry Nicholls
– Will O’Rourke
– Ajaz Patel
– Rachin Ravindra
– Nathan Smith
– Will Young
– Tom Latham (out of first Test)

On the Zimbabwe side, players include:
– Craig Ervine (captain)
– Ben Curran
– Roy Kaia
– Clive Madande
– Tanunurwa Makoni
– Tafadzwa Tsiga
– Nick Welch
– Brian Bennett
– Sikandar Raza
– Sean Williams
– Tanaka Chivanga
– Trevor Gwandu
– Wellington Masakadza
– Vincent Masekesa
– Blessing Muzarabani
– Newman Nyamhuri

The newly appointed coach of the Black Caps, Rob Walter, is making his Test debut, having previously led the team to five victories in the T20 format. The 49-year-old South African coach aims to guide the team across all formats until the conclusion of the T20 World Cup in November 2028.

Importantly, while both teams are vying for a win, there are no World Test Championship points at stake in this series, as Zimbabwe is not part of the 2025-2027 World Test Championship. The Black Caps will begin their WTC campaign in December against the West Indies.

Historically, the Black Caps have maintained control over their matches against Zimbabwe, winning 11 of the 17 Tests played, with six resulting in draws. Their most recent match against Zimbabwe took place nine years ago, and New Zealand has won the last six encounters, with the last draw occurring in 2000.

Play in the first Test is set to commence daily at 20:00 NZT. The schedule includes three sessions: the first from 20:00 to 22:00, the second from 22:40 to 00:40, and the third from 01:00 to 03:00. Fans can follow live updates through The Herald, with tests being broadcast live and free on ThreeNow.

As the Black Caps aim to extend their unbeaten streak against Zimbabwe, the focus remains on how the new captain and coaching staff will navigate the challenges ahead.