Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) has, on Monday, July 21, announced a 16-member squad for their upcoming two-match Test series against New Zealand. ZC has also confirmed that Bulawayo’s Queens Sports Club will host both Test matches against the New Zealand National Cricket Team.

The first Test is scheduled to be played on July 30, while the second and final Test match will be played from August 7 between the Zimbabwe National Cricket Team and the New Zealand National Cricket Team. There are a few key changes from the Test side that recently faced South Africa at home.

ZC announces squad for New Zealand Tests

The ZC said that Ben Curran returned to the Test team for the upcoming Test series against New Zealand after recovering from a hand injury. Curran had missed the recent Test series against South Africa due to injury. Apart from English-Zimbabwean batter Sikandar Raza, Roy Kaia and Tanunurwa Makoni also made a comeback to the Test team after missing the Proteas Tests.

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However, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Prince Masvaure, Wessly Madhevere, and Kundai Matigimu have been dropped from the Test squad as the big names are all set to return to national duty in the whites for the exciting home series against the Kiwis.

In a massive boost for the hosts, the young batting sensation Brian Bennett is back in the fold after recovering from a concussion that had ruled him out mid-series against South Africa. Bennett’s return meant that Dion Myers, who was brought in as cover, lost his place in the Test side.

Zimbabwean eyes revenge in Bulawayo

Craig Ervine will continue to lead the Zimbabwean cricket team, with experienced players like Sean Williams and Blessing Muzarabani expected to play crucial roles as they are aiming to make a strong comeback against New Zealand after being whitewashed by South Africa at home.

The upcoming two-match Test series will be the first red-ball encounter between Zimbabwe and New Zealand since 2016, when the Kiwis last toured Bulawayo for a two-match Test series and whitewashed the hosts.

Now, after almost a decade, they are aiming to take perfect revenge at the same venue, having played some good cricket against the Proteas side recently.

Here’s Zimbabwe’s squad for the Test series against New Zealand:

Craig Ervine (Captain), Brian Bennett, Tanaka Chivanga, Ben Curran, Trevor Gwandu, Roy Kaia, Tanunurwa Makoni, Clive Madande, Vincent Masekesa, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Nicholas Welch, Sean Williams, Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani, Newman Nyamhuri, and Sikandar Raza.

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Meanwhile, the Zimbabwean team is currently hosting New Zealand and South Africa in a T20 Tri-Nation Series. The hosts are yet to open their account under Sikandar Raza’s captaincy, as both New Zealand and South Africa have won two T20I games already.

On Sunday, South Africa crushed the hosts by 7 wickets in the fourth game of the ongoing T20 Tri-Nation Series to almost keep them out of the title race.

Chasing is easier: Sikandar Raza after losing 2 games in a row

After the second straight loss in the ongoing T20 Tri-Nation Series at home, Raza said, “I think 150-160 was a decent score. Can’t catch a breath; chasing is easier, but that’s no excuse. You need to keep working for ones and twos, and that’s something we can learn. Batting in patches was better, but we need to fix all those puzzles together.”