ZIM vs SA | African rivalry to add new chapter after eight years as newly crowned Proteas head to Zimbabwe

Fresh beginnings await South Africa and Zimbabwe at the Queen Sports Club in Bulawayo as the two teams prepare to battle with the red-ball on Zimbabwean soil for the first time since 2014. The series marks the start of a bumper home season for the Chevrons with the two Tests the first of six in 2025 as they push for inclusion in the World Test Championship -- the same tournament the Proteas clinched last month at Lord's after taking down then-reigning champions Australia.

However, when the South African cricket team lands in Zimbabwe, the joyous memories would feel like the distant past given the new-look squad at their disposal. As many as five players have received their maiden call-ups and will be led by stand-in captain Keshav Maharaj after Temba Bavuma pulled his hamstring in the final, with none of Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, or Lungi Ngidi avaialable for selection in the first Test. Nevertheless, the visitors will fancy their chances even while trying to blood youngsters and improve the depth in their reserves before they kick off the new WTC cycle, considering they have never lost a Test to Zimbabwe and only endured two defeats in 55 internationals across the three formats of the game.  

Form Guide

ZIM:  L L W L L

SA: W W W W W 

ZIM vs SA Head to head in Tests

In the nine times that South Africa have faced Zimbabwe since the latter acquired Test status in 1992, they have emerged victorious on eight occasions with a rain-interrupted draw on a dead rubber in 2001 the only exception. Four of those wins have come by an innings margin while margins in the other three games read 9 wickets, 7 wickets, and 9 wickets respectively. However, the two teams last met in 2017 and have not played in Zimbabwe for over a decade, which might lead to a few surprises given the inexperience of the touring contingent.

ZIM 0-8 SA

Pitch and Weather

The Queen Sports Club in Bulawayo has often presented itself as a batting haven at the start of a season, the hard and dry tracks baked under the sun to provide even bounce and encourage strokemaking. However, towards the back half of Tests, the surface tends to slow down considerably, bringing the spinners into play in a big way. Curiously enough, it is the team batting second that has won on 12 occassions as compared to six victories for the team batting first, but the key to the mystery might lie in the seven innings-result the venue has produced. Expact the captain winning the toss to bat without hesitation come Saturday.

The match is expected to be played under clear skies and hazy sunlight, with temperatures expected to hover around the 20 degrees Celsius mark on day one with a gradual spike as the afternoon wears on.    

Team News

Zimbabwe will be forced to ring in the changes from the one-off four-day Test against England the in May, with Sikandar Raza unavailable due to franchise commitments while Ben Curran and Richard Ngarava recover from injuries. This opens the door for batters Prince Masvaure and Takudzwanashe Kaitano to return to the Zimbabwean lineup as batters, with Wellington Masakadza expected to fill in as the spin-bowling all-rounder along with leggie Vincent Masekesa.

South Africa, meanwhile, have opted to send a second-string squad to Zimbabwe after a gruelling World Test Championship campaign. Wiaan Mulder, Kyle Verreyne, and Keshav Maharaj are expected to be the only players to feature from the final against Australia, with the latter captaining after Temba Bavuma was ruled out with a finger injury. Lesego Senokwane, Dewald Brevis, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, and Prenelan Subrayen are thus in line for a potential debut.   

ZIM Probable XI: Brian Bennett, Prince Masvaure, Craig Ervine (c), Sean Williams, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Wellington Masakadza, Wessly Madhavere, Tafadzwa Tsiga (wk), Blessing Muzarabani, Vincent Masekesa, Kundai Matigimu  

SA Probable XI: Tony de Zorzi, Lesego Senokwane, Wiaan Mulder, Dewald Brevis, David Bedingham, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Kyle Verreyne (wk), Corbin Bosch, Prenelan Subrayen, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka 

Broadcasting Platforms