Test cricket in England returns this month as Ben Stokes’ side begin preparations for a bumper home series against India with a four-day Test against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge.
The clash in Nottingham, going down from May 22, shall be the primary time the perimeters have faced within the format for over twenty years, when a certain James Anderson made his debut on the age of 20.
Whilst the one-off Test is probably not of utmost importance to England within the context of their 2025 schedule, it presents an momentous occasion for the visitors who shall be travelling to certainly one of the ‘big three’ Test playing nations for the primary time since 2003.
Such is Zimbabwe’s hiatus from competing against top-level opposition, Brendan Taylor – their third highest run-scorer across all formats – never played against England or Australia during his 17-year Test profession.
Series win drought
Currently ranked as the bottom of the 12 full member nations and never incorporated into the World Test Championship format, Zimbabwe have did not win a series since a one-off Test victory over Bangladesh in 2011.
There may be cause for optimism inside the camp, though, having recently beaten Bangladesh in a drawn two-match series which put an end to a run of six consecutive series defeats.
After what has been a disappointing period in white-ball cricket wherein they did not qualify for the previous two major ICC events, 2025 provides the chance for his or her Test side to realize some much needed consistency with home series against South Africa and Recent Zealand to follow this summer.
Positive signs
The three-wicket triumph in Sylhet was Zimbabwe’s first Test win in 4 years since a victory over Afghanistan and there have been definitely positive signs moving forward, despite an innings defeat within the second Test.
At the highest of the order, a brand new opening partnership is blossoming between 21-year-old Brian Bennett and Ben Curran.
Highly-rated Bennett scored his maiden Test century against Afghanistan in December, making 110 off just 124 deliveries in a match he also took a five-wicket haul, in addition to registering two vital half-centuries within the win over Bangladesh last month.
Southpaw Curran, the son of former Zimbabwe player Kevin and the brother of England duo Sam and Tom, made his international debut in December last yr and already has a Test fifty and ODI century to his name.
Tall pace bowler Blessing Muzarabani has moved as much as a career-best fifteenth in the lads’s Test bowling rankings after taking nine wickets in a match-winning performance over Bangladesh, including figures of 6-72 within the second innings.
Having also turn into the primary Zimbabwean fast bowler to take seven wickets in an innings with 7-58 at home to Ireland in February, a month after taking a six-fer against Afghanistan, the 28-year-old is barely the second Zimbabwe bowler to surpass the 700-point mark within the ICC rankings.
Spin promise
There may be also promise within the spin department with leg-spinner Vincent Masekesa taking five wickets on his debut within the recent second Test against Bangladesh, because it stays unlikely premier all-rounder Sikandar Raza shall be involved at Trent Bridge because of franchise commitments which has seen him skip their last three Test matches.
In amongst the emerging talent stays the highly experienced duo of captain Craig Ervine and Sean Williams in the center order who each feature inside the top ten of their nation’s scoring charts.
Despite their relative lack of experience against this calibre of opposition, the pair are expected to be vital if the Chevrons are to be competitive over the course of the 4 days in what shall be very unfamiliar conditions to the vast majority of the side.
Only three members of the present squad have featured in county cricket – Curran and Muzarabani each hung out at Northamptonshire, whilst batter Nick Welch spent 4 seasons with Leicestershire between 2020-2023.
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