Zim Opt to Bowl First in Historic One-Off Test A...

Zim Opt to Bowl First in Historic One-Off Test Against England

Witness Runodada- Zim Now Reporter

Zimbabwe returned to the Test arena in dramatic fashion today, taking on England in a historic one-off match at Trent Bridge—marking their first Test appearance on English soil in over two decades.

After winning the toss, Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine elected to bowl first, hoping to exploit favourable seam conditions in the morning session.

Zimbabwe’s playing XI features a blend of seasoned campaigners and emerging talent. The top order is led by Ben Curran and Brian Bennett, with Ervine anchoring the number three position. Sean Williams and Sikandar Raza bring experience and stability to the middle order, while Wessly Madhevere and wicketkeeper Tafadzwa Tsiga complete the batting unit.

The pace attack includes Blessing Muzarabani, Victor Nyauchi, Tanaka Chivanga, and Richard Ngarava—four seamers tasked with making early inroads against the English lineup.

However, the team selection has sparked a flurry of criticism online, with fans questioning key omissions. The exclusion of seam-bowling all-rounder Brad Evans has drawn particular backlash, especially given his experience playing in English conditions.

“To be honest, Brad Evans is the most needed one in this squad… he already played a lot of cricket in England,” commented a fan named Gautham on social media.

Others lamented the absence of top-order batter Nick Welch, with Tinotenda Chigamu posting: “Nick Welch not in the XI? This is just unbelievable. Craig at 3 is going to have real issues… they are going with four seamers.”

Reactions ranged from disappointment to anger, with one user, Mridul, posting a scathing remark: “This is Zim cricket for you, especially at that stage when the world will watch you. Quota at its best.”

As the match unfolds, all eyes will be on Zimbabwe’s performance, both to justify their selections and to make a strong statement on their long-awaited return to the global Test stage.