After losing T20Is and ODIs series, Zimbabwe will be eyeing a better show in the upcoming two-match Test series against Afghanistan. ZIM vs AFG in the series is scheduled to be played on Thursday (December 26) at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo.
The hosts will have their work cut out for them in the Test series after their dismal show in the ODIs. Coming off a 2-1 defeat in the T20I series, the hosts were completely outclassed by Afghanistan in the ODIs. In all the games, the home batsmen failed to make an impact.
In the first game, they were reeling at 44/5 in 10 overs when rain brought a premature end to proceedings. Zimbabwe were all out for just 54 runs while chasing 287 runs in the second ODI,
In the must-win third ODI, their batsmen once again failed to impress as the hosts were all out for 127 runs and lost the game by 8 wickets. With the hosts now looking to bounce back in the Test series, we take a look at the Zimbabwe playing 11 for the first Test.
Zimbabwe Playing 11 vs Afghanistan- First Test, Afghanistan tour of Zimbabwe 2024-25:
Openings: Ben Curran, Joylord Gumbie
Ben Curran and Joylord Gumbie will be the first in the Playing 11. After a disastrous batting performance in the ODIs, they will have a good image in the Test series.
The onus will be on Curran and Gumbie to get their team off to a good start. Curran is expected to make his Test debut in the upcoming game. He recently made his debut for the hosts in the ODI series against Afghanistan and failed to impress, posting scores of 15, 0 and 12.
Curran has over 2500 runs in first-class cricket and will be eyeing a good show on his debut. Gumbie on the other hand played in only one ODI against Afghanistan and was dismissed for 3 runs in that game. The next Test will be only his second appearance in red-ball cricket.
Middle-order batsmen and all-rounders: Dion Myers, Craig Ervine, Sean Williams, Brian Bennett, Sikandar Raza
Captain Craig Ervine will look to lead his side up front in the first Test. With Zimbabwe desperate to turn things around, they will rely heavily on their captain. Ervine could not impress in the ODI series, getting 1*, 4 and 5.
Sean Williams will be one of the most important players of the match. In the two Tests that the hosts and Afghanistan have played against each other so far, he has scored a century in each of those Tests. Williams will be aiming for a similar performance in the upcoming match as well.
Sikandar Raza is another senior player who will look to make an impact with both bat and ball. A handy fielder and a reliable middle-order batsman, Raza can prove to be the asset for the hosts. As of Brian Bennett and Dion Myers are the other middle-order options in the Zimbabwe Playing 11.
Bowlers: Newman Nyamhuli, Richard Ngarava, Trevor Gwandu, Blessing Muzarabani
The hosts are expected to include four frontline players in the Zimbabwe Playing 11 for the first Test. Pacers are Newman Nyamhuri, Richard Ngarava, Trevor Gwandu and Muzarabani's blessing.