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Zimbabwe are ready to receive Afghanistan for the first Test of a two-match series at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, starting December 26, 2024. This match marks an important occasion as it will be Zimbabwe’s first home Boxing Day Test in 28 years , which adds to the excitement surrounding the accessory.
Both teams come into this test series after a successful segment of limited events. Afghanistan recently clinched the T20I series 2-1 and followed it up with a convincing 2-0 victoryin the ODI series against Zimbabwe. This strong performance in white-ball cricket has boosted Afghanistan’s confidence in their transition to the red-ball format. On the contrary, Zimbabwe will look to bounce back from their recent defeats in the shorter formats, aiming to assert their dominance on the Test pitch after historically struggling against Afghanistan.
Queens Sports Club Presentation Report
The court at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo is known for its balanced nature, offering fair competition between batsmen and bowlers. Historically, the average first innings score at this venue has been around 307 runs in recent matches, indicating that while scoring can be achieved, it requires skill and patience on the part of the batsmen.
In terms of conditions, the course tends to favor players, especially in the early stages of a match when the new ball can offer some movement on the seams. However, as the game progresses, it becomes more conducive to batting, allowing for better opportunities to score runs. Spinners may also find help later in the innings as the surface wears down.
Teams that win the toss often face a strategic decision about whether to bat or bowl first, as both approaches can be successful depending on the conditions of the day. With a mix of humidity and possible cloudiness during the upcoming Test match, the players will have to adapt quickly to the behavior of the pitch.
Test statistics and records at Queens Sports Club
- Total matches: 25
- Matches won batting first: 4
- Matches won bowling first: 12
- 1st Inns Average Scores: 307
- 2nd Inns Average Scores: 395
- 3rd Inn Average Scores: 213
- 4th Inns Average Scores: 175
- Highest total on record: 713/3 (165.3 Ov) by SL vs ZIM
- Lowest total on record: 104/10 (49 Ov) by ZIM vs WI
READ ALSO: Zimbabwe picks 7 uncapped players in its squad for Afghanistan trials
ZIM vs AFG: Head-to-head record in Test cricket
- Total matches: 2
- Afghanistan won: 1
- Zimbabwe won: 1
- Tied matches: 1
- Afghanistan’s highest total against Zimbabwe: 545
- Afghanistan’s lowest total against Zimbabwe: 131
- Zimbabwe’s highest total against Afghanistan: 365
- Zimbabwe’s lowest total against Afghanistan: 250
Squads:
Afghanistan: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmat Shah (vc), Ikram Alikhail (wk), Afsar Zazai (wk), Riaz Hassan, Sediqullah Atal, Abdul Malik, Baheer Shah Mahboob, Ismat Alam, Azmatullah Omarzai, Zahir Khan, Zia Ur Rehman Akbar, Zahir Shehzad, Rashid Khan, Yamin Ahmadzai, Bashir Ahmad Afghan, Naveed Zadran and Fareed Ahmad Malik
Zimbabwe: Craig Ervine (c), Ben Curran, Brian Bennett, Johnathan Campbell, Takudzwa Chataira, Joylord Gumbie, Trevor Gwandu, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Brandon Mavuta, Nyasha Mayavo, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Newman Nyamhuri, Sikandar Raza , Sean Williams.
