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, taking place from May 22, will be the first time the sides have faced in the format for over two decades, when a certain James Anderson made his debut at the age of 20.
Whilst the one-off Test may not be of utmost importance to England in the context of their 2025 schedule, it presents an momentous occasion for the visitors who will be travelling to one of the ‘big three’ Test playing nations for the first 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 career.
Series win drought
Currently ranked as the lowest of the 12 full member nations and not incorporated into the World Test Championship format, Zimbabwe have failed to win a series since a one-off Test victory over Bangladesh in 2011.
There is cause for optimism within 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 in which they failed to qualify for the previous two major ICC events, 2025 provides the opportunity for their Test side to gain some much needed consistency with home series against South Africa and New Zealand to follow this summer.
Positive signs
The three-wicket triumph in Sylhet was Zimbabwe’s first Test win in four years since a victory over Afghanistan and there were certainly positive signs moving forward, despite an innings defeat in the second Test.
At the top of the order, a 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, as well as registering two vital half-centuries in 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 year and already has a Test fifty and ODI century to his name.
Tall pace bowler Blessing Muzarabani has moved up to a career-best 15th in the men’s Test bowling rankings after taking nine wickets in a match-winning performance over Bangladesh, including figures of 6-72 in the second innings.
Having also become the first 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 only the second Zimbabwe bowler to surpass the 700-point mark in the ICC rankings.
Spin promise
There is also promise in the spin department with leg-spinner Vincent Masekesa taking five wickets on his debut in the recent second Test against Bangladesh, as it remains unlikely premier all-rounder Sikandar Raza will be involved at Trent Bridge due to franchise commitments which has seen him skip their last three Test matches.
In amongst the emerging talent remains the highly experienced duo of captain Craig Ervine and Sean Williams in the middle order who both feature within 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 four days in what will be very unfamiliar conditions to the majority of the side.
Only three members of the current squad have featured in county cricket – Curran and Muzarabani both spent time at Northamptonshire, whilst batter Nick Welch spent four seasons with Leicestershire between 2020-2023.
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