Zimbabwe Preparing to host Afghanistan for the first test of the two-match series starting on 26 December 2024 at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. The match is a landmark as it will be Zimbabwe’s first home Boxing Day Test in 28 years, adding to the excitement around it. armature.
Both teams enter this Test series after a successful limited-overs segment. Afghanistan recently won the T20I series 2-1 and followed it up with a A convincing 2:0 victoryIn the ODI series against Zimbabwe. This strong performance in white ball cricket has boosted Afghanistan’s confidence as they switch to the red ball format. On the contrary, Zimbabwe will look to bounce back from their recent defeat in the shorter formats with the aim of asserting their dominance in the Test arena after their historic struggle against Afghanistan.
Queens Sports Club Pitch Report
The Queens Sports Club ground 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 is possible, it requires skill and patience from the batsmen.
In terms of conditions, the pitch favors the bowlers, especially in the early stages of the match when the new ball can offer some seaming action. However, as the game progresses, it becomes more hitter-friendly and allows for better run-scoring opportunities. Spinners can also find assistance in their throws by wearing the surface.
Teams winning the toss are often faced with the strategic decision of batting first or bowling, as either approach can be successful depending on the conditions of the day. With a mix of humidity and potential cloud cover 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 in first innings: 4
- Matches won in bowling: 12
- Average scores of 1st hotels: 307
- Average scores of 2nd hotels: 395
- Average scores of 3rd hotels: 213
- Average scores of 4th hotels: 175
- Most recorded common: 713/3 (165.3 Ov) by SL vs ZIM.
- The lowest total recorded was: 104/10 (49 Hunts) by ZIM vs WI
Also READ: Zimbabwe selects 7-man squad for Afghanistan Tests
ZIM vs AFG: Head-to-head record in Test cricket
- Total Matches: 2
- Afghanistan won: 1
- Zimbabwe won: 1
- Draws: 1
- Afghanistan’s highest score against Zimbabwe: 545
- Afghanistan’s lowest score against Zimbabwe: 131
- Zimbabwe’s highest against Afghanistan: 365
- Zimbabwe’s lowest against Afghanistan: 250
Teams:
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, Zaheer Shehzad, Rashid Khan, Yamin Ahmadzai, Bashir Ahmed Afghan, Naveed Zadran and Farid Ahmed Malik
Zimbabwe: Craig Ervine (c), Ben Curran, Brian Bennett, Jonathan Campbell, Takudzwa Chatayra, Joylord Gumbi, Trevor Gwandu, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Brandon Mavuta, Nyasha Mayavo, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Siam Nyam, Richard Nyamur, Sean Williams .
