Tag: Zimbabwe

Ben Stokes struck twice on his return to Test cricket as England enforced the follow-on against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge on Friday despite a record-breaking century from Brian Bennett.

Zimbabwe were dismissed for just 265 after tea on the second day of the four-day match, exactly 300 runs behind England’s mammoth first-innings 565-6 declared.

England captain Ben Stokes wasted no time in asking Zimbabwe to bat again as he sought to turn the screw in Nottingham.

And at stumps, Zimbabwe were 30-2 in their second innings, a deficit of 270 runs.

This actually represented a recovery from 7-2 in the first Test of Zimbabwe in England in 22 years.

Bennett endured the other side of Test cricket when lbw for just one to Gus Atkinson before Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine also fell cheaply.

Zimbabwe were dominated by England’s batsmen before reaching the relative comfort of 187-3 on a flat pitch in their first innings.

But all-rounder Ben Stokes, playing his first match of the year in any form of cricket following hamstring surgery, took two wickets for no runs in 11 balls before tea to leave Zimbabwe struggling on 199-5.

He had Sikandar Raza (seven) caught behind off a lifting delivery ball that cut away before bowling Wessly Madhevere for a duck with a sharp in-ducker.

Bennett, occasionally riding his luck, kept England at bay, reaching 139 off just 143 balls, including an impressive 26 fours, before he was dismissed.

He reached his century in 97 balls, breaking the record for the fastest Test ton by a Zimbabwe batsman, Sean Williams’s 106-ball effort against New Zealand at Bulawayo in 2016.

Bennett had a lifeline when dropped in the slips by Joe Root off paceman Stokes on 89 but the 21-year-old opener went to his hundred, his second in seven Tests, in style with three commanding fours off successive balls from fast bowler Atkinson.

“When I play my best that is my game-plan — to be positive,” said Bennett. “I saw the ball nicely.”

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Bennett, whose parents were in the crowd at Trent Bridge, added: “It is a huge honour to play for Zimbabwe in Test cricket, especially at such a young age.”

After tea, Bennett was brilliantly caught by a diving Ollie Pope at short leg as he fended at a rising delivery from the injury-plagued Tongue only for replays to reveal the fast bowler, playing his first Test in two years, had over-stepped.

But Bennett was unable to cash in. He was still on 139 when he fell to the same combination in similar fashion, with Pope taking a far simpler catch.

And 246-6 became 251-7 when Shoaib Bashir, who had struck twice before tea, bowled Tafadzwa Tsiga for 22 with a sharply turning delivery.

Zimbabwe’s innings ended when they were nine wickets down, with injured paceman Richard Ngarava unable to bat.

Off-spinner Bashir finished with figures of 3-62 after taking just two wickets in this season’s County Championship at a hugely expensive average of 152 apiece.

“It was nice to get the wickets there,” said the 21-year-old. “It was a pretty dominant day from us.

“Walking into the dressing room, as we say you stand six-foot tall. I’m very well supported here. It’s my happy place,” added Bashir, loaned to Glamorgan because he struggles to get into a Somerset team where Jack Leach is the specialist spinner.

England resumed Friday under sunny skies on an already commanding 498-3, with Pope 169 not out after openers Zak Crawley (124) and Ben Duckett (140) had also made hundreds.

But Pope had added just two runs when caught behind off Tanaka Chivanga, bringing in Stokes, who only managed nine runs.

Harry Brook punished Zimbabwe’s outclassed attack, hitting 58 off 50 balls, including six fours and three sixes.

He struck Blessing Muzarabani for successive sixes, a thumping pull followed by a remarkable pick-up shot that sailed high over fine leg.

Brook went to fifty with another six off Muzarabani before playing on to the persevering quick, who finished with 3-143.

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NOTTINGHAM: England star batter Joe Root on Thursday became the fastest batter to complete 13,000 Test runs during the ongoing one-off Test against Zimbabwe here at Trent Bridge.

Veteran Joe Root achieved the milestone when he completed 28 runs in the 80th over on Day 1 of the ongoing historic Test. He needed 28 runs to achieve the landmark before coming in to bat.

The right-handed batter is only the 5th batter overall and the first from England to accumulate this many runs in the longest format. In doing so, he surpassed the likes of legendary Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Ricky Ponting and Jacques Kallis

He is now the fifth player overall—and the first from England—to cross the 13,000-run mark in Test cricket. Tendulkar still leads the all-time list with 15,921 runs in 200 matches.

Fastest to reach 13000 Test runs (Matches)

• Joe Root (England) – 153
• Jacques Kallis (South Africa) – 159
• Rahul Dravid (India) – 160
• Ricky Ponting (Australia) – 162
• Sachin Tendulkar (India) – 163

Joe Root made his Test debut against India in 2012 and has since become one of the most consistent batters in the longest format of the game.

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Root’s feat was the highlight of the outstanding opening day, which marked the beginning of the English summer.

England’s dominance was evident as they piled up 498-3 in 88 overs on the opening day.

The highlight of the first day was Ben Duckett’s (140) and Zak Crawley’s (124) mammoth opening stand. Both batters scored sublime centuries in a 231-run partnership before getting dismissed.

The opening pair’s centuries were followed by Ollie Pope’s magnificent 169*, who, along with Harry Brook (9), remained unbeaten at the end of day’s play.

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England has named its playing XI for the one-off historic Test against Zimbabwe, which is set to commence on Thursday at Trent Bridge.

The four-day Test, marking the beginning of England’s summer, will be Zimbabwe’s first on English soil since 2003.

England is set to hand a debut to Sam Cook as head coach Brendon McCullum confirmed his place in the playing XI two days before the match.

Cook, 27, who has 321 wickets to his name in first-class cricket, will feature alongside a three-pronged pace attack. Josh Tongue is also returning to the team after being sidelined with injury for much of the past two years.

The England seam attack post Stuart Broad and James Anderson’s retirement is raw, with only 13 previous caps between them.

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The playing XI also features right-arm spinner Shoaib Bashir, who is retained, while Ben Stokes is gearing up to feature as an all-rounder after suffering an injury during the last Test against New Zealand in December.

Stokes has not played a competitive match since undergoing surgery on his hamstring.

Brendon McCullum admitted to the inexperience of the pace attack while stressing the desire to expand options available to his team.

“We’ve made no secret of us wanting to build a battery of fast bowlers. Knowing that when you’re you’re dealing at the elite level and you’re asking guys to play at 100% and leave it all out there, there’s going to be things which happen, which means guys are going to miss out,” he said.

“For us to walk into this Test match week, I feel like we’ve got a nice varied attack. It’s got some youth, and it’s got some inexperience, but these guys have also been around this group now for a decent amount of time, and they know how to operate,” he concluded.

England XI for Zimbabwe Test

Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett,  Ollie Pope,  Joe Root, Harry Brook,  Ben Stokes (capt), James Smith (wk), Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue, Sam Cook,  Shoaib Bashir

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Uncapped batter James Rew has been called up to the England squad to replace the injured Jordan Cox ahead of the forthcoming Test match against Zimbabwe, which gets underway at Trent Bridge on 22 May.

Cox was ruled out of the squad after injuring his abdominal muscles while batting for Essex against Somerset in the latest round of the County Championship.

In his absence, 21-year-old Rew has been called up to the England squad due to his impressive form for Somerset this season. Rew is currently averaging 54.21 with the bat, including a highest score of 152.

A graduate of the England Lions pathway, Rew toured Australia with the Lions last winter and played a pivotal role in the Young Lions team that reached the ICC U19 World Cup final in 2022, alongside current internationals Rehan Ahmed and Jacob Bethell.

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Rew will join the Test squad at their pre-series training camp next week as they prepare for the start of the international summer.

England aims to use the upcoming Test against Zimbabwe to build momentum ahead of their five-match Test series against India, which begins on June 20 at Headingley.

The match at Trent Bridge will mark Zimbabwe’s first Test in the UK since 2003, representing a historic return after more than two decades.

England squad for Zimbabwe Test

Ben Stokes (Durham) – captain, Gus Atkinson (Surrey), Shoaib Bashir (Somerset), Harry Brook (Yorkshire), Sam Cook (Essex), Zak Crawley (Kent), Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Matthew Potts (Durham), James Rew (Somerset), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jamie Smith (Surrey), Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire).

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Star all-rounder Sikandar Raza has been recalled as Zimbabwe announced their 15-member squad for the one-off Test against England, scheduled to begin on May 22 at Trent Bridge.

The fixture holds historical significance, as it will be Zimbabwe’s first Test on English soil in over two decades, with their last appearance dating back to 2003.

Zimbabwe recently played a competitive two-match Test series in Bangladesh, which ended 1-1. The visitors had stunned the hosts with a three-wicket win in the first Test before Bangladesh bounced back to level the series.

Three changes have been made to the squad that toured Bangladesh. Sikandar Raza replaces Jonathan Campbell, adding much-needed experience and balance to the side.

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Clive Madande, fit again after an injury layoff, slots in as the backup wicketkeeper in place of Nyasha Mayavo.

Pacer Newman Nyamhuri has been brought in for the seamer-friendly English conditions, replacing young spinner Vincent Masekesa, who impressed on debut with a five-wicket haul but misses out this time.

Zimbabwe head coach Justin Sammons acknowledged the magnitude of the occasion and urged his players to back themselves against a world-class England outfit.

“We’re up against one of the best teams in the world, but the message is simple — we belong here,” said Sammons. “I want to see the guys walking out there with belief, embracing and enjoying the moment.”

Zimbabwe squad for England Test

Craig Ervine (captain), Brian Bennett, Ben Curran, Trevor Gwandu, Clive Madande, Wessly Madhevere, Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Newman Nyamhuri, Victor Nyauchi, Sikandar Raza, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Nicholas Welch, Sean Williams.

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The England Men’s selection panel has named a 13-player squad for the upcoming Rothesay Test match against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge, which begins on Thursday, 22 May 2025.

This historic fixture marks Zimbabwe’s first Test on English soil since 2003 and is set to launch England’s international summer.

The squad includes two uncapped players at Test level – Essex duo Sam Cook and Jordan Cox.

Cook, 27, has been one of the most consistent bowlers in County cricket in recent years.

He boasts 318 first-class wickets at an average of 19.77 and impressed on the England Lions tour of Australia over the winter, taking 13 wickets across three matches.

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Nottinghamshire seamer Josh Tongue earns a recall to the Test squad, having last featured during the Ashes in 2023.

After overcoming a series of injuries, he has been in impressive form this season with 15 wickets at an average of 24 in the Championship.

The batting lineup remains mostly the same from England’s previous Test series against New Zealand, with Zak Crawley keeping his place despite short of runs-he has not scored a half-century in his last five Tests.

This will also be England captain Ben Stokes’ first competitive match of the year after suffering from a hamstring injury for the second time in six months in England’s final Test in New Zealand.

England Men’s squad for Test Match against Zimbabwe

Ben Stokes (Durham) – Captain, Gus Atkinson (Surrey), Shoaib Bashir (Somerset), Harry Brook (Yorkshire), Sam Cook (Essex), Jordan Cox (Essex), Zak Crawley (Kent), Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Matthew Potts (Durham), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jamie Smith (Surrey), Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire)

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CHATTOGRAM: Bangladesh thrashed Zimbabwe by an innings and 106 runs inside four days of the second Test to level the two-match series here at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium on Wednesday.

Zimbabwe scored 227 in their first innings after winning the toss, with Bangladesh scoring a formidable 444 in response.

The visitors then collapsed for 111 in the second session of the third day in Chattogram.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz starred with both bat and ball, scoring a century and then bagging 5-32 with the ball to hand Zimbabwe a crushing defeat.

It was the all-rounder’s third five-wicket haul of the series after five in each innings of the Sylhet Test.

His spin-bowling partner Taijul Islam bagged 3-42 for nine wickets in the match.

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Ben Curran was the only Zimbabwe batter to show some resistance against Bangladesh bowlers, scoring 46 off 103 balls in an innings laced with five boundaries.

Craig Ervine (25) and Wellington Masakadza (10) were the only other Zimbabweans to reach double digits in the second innings.

Shadman Islam earlier top-scored for Bangladesh with 120 to power the hosts to an imposing total.

Leg-spinner Vincent Masekesa was the most successful among the Zimbabwe bowlers with 5-115, in the process becoming Zimbabwe’s third cricketer to take five wickets on debut after Andy Blignaut and John Nyumbu.

However, his efforts could not stop Bangladesh running away with the match.

Bangladesh added 153 more to their overnight total of 291, with Mehidy assisted by tailenders Taijul (20 off 45) and Tanzim Hasan Sakib (41 off 80).

It was Zimbabwe’s second successive defeat at the spin-friendly venue and the second time that Bangladesh have defeated Zimbabwe by an innings.

The margin of their first defeat of that magnitude, in Dhaka in 2020, was identical: an innings and 106 runs.

Zimbabwe Playing XI: Brian Bennett, Ben Curran, Nick Welch, Sean Williams, Craig Ervine (c), Wessly Madhevere, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Wellington Masakadza, Richard Ngarava, Vincent Masekesa, Blessing Muzarabani.

Bangladesh Playing XI: Shadman Islam, Anamul Haque, Mominul Haque, Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mushfiqur Rahim, Jaker Ali, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nayeem Hasan, Taijul Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Hasan Mahmud

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SYLHET: Zimbabwe successfully chased down the modest target of 174 runs, defeating Bangladesh by three wickets in the first Test, despite a brilliant bowling performance by Mehidy Hasan Miraz on Wednesday.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz recorded his second five-wicket haul for the match but it was in vain as Zimbabwe’s batsmen held their nerve to close out the match despite losing quick wickets.

Zimbabwe chased down their target of 174 by the third session of the fourth day with three wickets in hand, their first win against Bangladesh since 2018, and their first against any team in four years, to secure a 1-0 lead.

Brian Bennett racked up his second fifty of the match to lead the chase on a surface that Bangladesh’s bowlers failed to exploit early.

Bennett and his opening partner Ben Curran laid a solid foundation with a partnership of 95 runs before Curran fell to Mehidy while attempting to play him over long on.

Curran failed to gauge the spin and ended up sending a catch to the mid-off.

Mehidy quickly bagged four more wickets for Bangladesh, sending tremors through the Zimbabwe camp, while Taijul Islam chipped in with another two.

But Wessly Madhevere (19 not out), Wellington Masakadza (12), and Richard Ngarava (4 not out) held their nerve to guide Zimbabwe home.

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Bangladesh posted 255 in the second innings, with captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and wicket-keeper-batter Jaker Ali contributing with a fifty each.

But the failures of batters such as Mushfiqur Rahim and Mehidy prevented them from setting up a more challenging target.

The Sylhet pitch is known to assist the fast bowlers, but, unlike Muzarabani, Bangladesh’s pacemen failed to capitalise on the home conditions.

The onus fell on the spin duo of Mehidy and Taijul, but their efforts weren’t enough to make the required impact.

Zimbabwe earlier responded with 273 to Bangladesh’s first innings of 191, with Nahid Rana taking three wickets alongside Mehidy’s five.

An 82-run first-innings lead put Zimbabwe in a commanding position, and they went on to record a big win.

Zimbabwe achieved its eighth victory over Bangladesh in 19 Tests, matching Bangladesh’s number of wins against them.

The second and final Test between Zimbabwe and Bangladesh will be played in Chattogram from April 28.

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Najmul Hossain Shanto batting heroics on Tuesday pushed Bangladesh second innings lead to 112 on the third day of the first Test against Zimbabwe, with the home team on 194-4.

Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto, who scored 40 in the first innings, remained unbeaten on 60 when bad light stopped play in Sylhet.

Najmul Hossain Shanto was ably supported by Jaker Ali, who was unbeaten on 21, and the duo will be looking on day four to stretch their team’s lead beyond 200 against an impressive Zimbabwe batting line-up.

Bangladesh ended the second day on a strong note after a disappointing first day, when Zimbabwe bowled them out for a modest 191.

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An impressive spell by spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who took five wickets, helped Bangladesh restrict the visitors to 273 — a lead of only 82.

The entire morning session on the third day was washed out by rain, making only 44 overs possible through the day’s play.

Bangladesh started the day at 57-1 and added 60 runs in a solid second-wicket stand between Mominul Haque (47) and opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy (33).

Zimbabwe speedster Blessing Muzarabani, who took three wickets in the first innings, added three more to his tally and closed the day at 3-51.

Muzarabani removed both Bangladesh openers, Shadman Islam (4) and Joy. He also took the key wicket of Mushfiqur Rahim (4).

The right-armer was supported by Victor Nyauchi, who was the only other Zimbabwe bowler to take a wicket in Bangladesh’s second innings.

Bangladesh have long been formidable on their slow and spin-friendly home pitches, but have several veterans missing this series.

They have won eight out of 18 Tests against Zimbabwe — their highest total against any Test side, including four of the past five.

The second and final Test between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe will be played in Chattogram from April 28.

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Spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz claimed five wickets as Bangladesh managed to restrict Zimbabwe to 273 on Monday for a modest 82-run lead on the second day of the first Test.

Zimbabwe finished the first day in Sylhet in a commanding position after bowling out the hosts for 191 and then racing to 67 without loss.

However, opener Ben Curran fell on 18 to Nahid Rana at the start of the second day, and his partner Brian Bennett, who hit an aggressive 64-ball 57, was removed soon after with the score on 88-2.

Sean Williams (59) was the only other Zimbabwe batter to reach fifty. Wessly Madhevere (24), Nyasha Mayavo (35), and Richard Ngarava (28) all failed to build bigger scores.

Off-spinner Mehidy took the key wickets of Williams, Mayavo, and Ngarava to finish with 5-52 on a wicket that was expected to help the pace bowlers.

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Nahid took 3-74 with aggressive bowling in support of Mehidy.

Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss on the first day and opted to bat first, but his batters were unable to capitalise.

Shanto must now hope that they can make the most of the friendly home conditions to set a formidable target for the visitors.

Bangladesh have won eight of the 18 Tests against Zimbabwe, their highest total against any Test side, with four of them in their past five encounters.

The second and final Test of the series will be played in Chattogram from April 28.

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