With speculations surrounding the feasibility of the tour given the looming security concerns, the New Zealand series was under threat. If canned, it would have been a major disappointment for the Bulawayo residents. However, the second-largest city in Zimbabwe will rejoice in unison as Test cricket returns to the city when New Zealand kick-start a two-match series at the Queens Sports Club on Thursday (July 28).
Playing their first Test since their three-match whitewash at the hands of Bangladesh in 2014, Zimbabwe will want to make a fresh start under their new captain Graeme Cremer, who has been named skipper after having led the side against India in the limited-overs series. Brendon Taylor, who was skipper of the side then, announced his retirement from international cricket after the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup.
In some sense, it will also be a fresh start for New Zealand as Kane Williamson takes over as full-time captain post the retirement of Brendon McCullum in February. However, the visitors seem to be far better prepared when compared to the hosts who not just are low on confidence, after having lost both the ODI and T20I series to India and their warm-up games - against South Africa A and the New Zealanders -comprehensively, but also have had a couple of injuries leading up to the series.
In the warm-up games, the Zimbabwe A side had their mainstay players from the Test squad looking at getting a handy hit-out. However, it was the New Zealanders that got a thorough, all-round game-time as both batsmen and bowlers made the most of the practice game.
Ish Sodhi, who last played a Test match against Pakistan in Sharjah in 2014, earned a recall and impressed with an all-round show of an unbeaten half-century and six wickets in the match. As many as four New Zealanders got half-centuries, of which two retired out and one remained unbeaten as New Zealanders scored 345 in the first innings in Harare.
Zimbabwe A, on the other hand, saw ducks from their top three as Tim Southee and Trent Boult ran through the top order and Sodhi skittled the lower one for not too many to bowl out the hosts for 114. Only Sean Williams (55) and Sikandar Raza (27) boasted of substantial scores. Their second innings' outing was slightly better but they eventually slipped to a 259-run loss.
The conditions and outfield in Bulawayo are touted to be similar to the ones in Harare. With successful acclimatising to those conditions, New Zealand will be confident heading into the series.
After having last played Zimbabwe in Napier way back in January 2012, where the hosts won by an innings and 301 runs, New Zealand will want to continue their domination over an opposition that has failed to beat them in the format thus far. New Zealand have toured the southern African nation five times, and have won four series and drawn the fifth.
This series also serves as a warm-up for New Zealand's two-Test series against South Africa, the first of which is slated to be played in Durban starting August 19 and the second in Centurion on August 27.
When: Zimbabwe vs New Zealand, 1st Test, July 28-August 1, 09:30 LOCAL (13:00 IST)
Where: Bulawayo
What to expect: Sunny skies with a high of 26, and a low of 11; the sides should get a full day's quota of Test cricket.
Team News:
Zimbabwe: Paceman Tendai Chatara complained of pain in his ankle in the three-day practice game and was subsequently ruled out of the series. Michael Chinouya has been named as his replacement. Opener Tinotenda Mawoyo was also hit on the thumb when playing against South Africa A, but scans cleared him of serious injury and he joined the Zimbabwe squad on Monday. His fitness will be assessed ahead of the first Test to confirm availability. Prince Masvaure, the 27-year-old batting all-rounder, is the only new face in Zimbabwe's squad.
New Zealand: Jeet Raval, the opening batsman, pipped Bharat Popli to be picked as the reserve opener after he netted in 780 runs at an average of 55.71 in the 2015-16 Plunket Shield. Corey Anderson was dropped and Ross Taylor returned after missing the Test series played at home against Australia due to a left side injury.
What they said:
Mike Hesson: I think in Bulawayo we're expecting something that's going to be relatively slow and not a heck of a lot of bounce, so taking 20 wickets will be a challenge. The Zimbabwe bowling attack is very disciplined, so from a batting point of view it's about committing to your plans for long periods of time.
Did you know?
-Kane Williamson has scored Test hundreds against all opposing teams except Zimbabwe; his highest score against them is 68 in three innings.
-Trent Boult needs three more wickets to become the first left-arm Kiwi pacer and seventh New Zealander overall to reach 150 wickets in Tests.
-If Chamu Chibhabha gets selected, he will hold the record of third most number of ODIs played before making his Test debut (96). Only Rohit Sharma (108) and Suresh Raina (98) played more before his maiden appearance in whites for his country.
-At 25 years & 354 days, Kane Willaimson will become the third-youngest captain to lead New Zealand in Tests after Stephen Fleming (25y 319d) and John Parker (25y 252d).
Teams (from):
Zimbabwe: Graeme Cremer (Captain), Sikandar Raza Butt, Regis Chakabva, Brian Chari, Michael Chinouya, Chamunorwa Chibhabha,Craig Ervine, Hamilton Masakadza, Prince Masvaure, Tinotenda Mawoyo, Peter Joseph Moor, Richmond Mutumbami,Taurai Muzarabani, Njabulo Ncube, Donald Tiripano and Sean Williams
New Zealand: Kane Williamson (Captain), Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Mark Craig, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Luke Ronchi, Jeet Raval, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling
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