Test South Africa & New Zealand tour of Zimbabwe 2025 - 4 Tests, T20I tri-series

[Sammo360]

Zimbabwe v South Africa
Sat 28 Jun-2 Jul | 1st Test, Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
Sun 6-10 Jul | 2nd Test, Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo

T20I Tri-Series
Mon 14 Jul | 1st Match, ZIM v SA, Harare Sports Club, Harare
Wed 16 Jul | 2nd Match, NZ v SA, Harare Sports Club, Harare
Fri 18 Jul | 3rd Match, ZIM v NZ, Harare Sports Club, Harare
Sun 20 Jul | 4th Match, ZIM v SA, Harare Sports Club, Harare
Tue 22 Jul | 5th Match, NZ v SA, Harare Sports Club, Harare
Thu 24 Jul | 6th Match, ZIM v NZ, Harare Sports Club, Harare
Sat 26 Jul | Final, Harare Sports Club, Harare

Zimbabwe v New Zealand
Wed 30 Jul-3 Aug | 1st Test, Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
Thu 7-11 Aug | 2nd Test, Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo

Zimbabwe v Sri Lanka
Fri 29 Aug | 1st ODI, Harare Sports Club, Harare
Sun 31 Aug | 2nd ODI, Harare Sports Club, Harare
Wed 3 Sep | 1st T20I, Harare Sports Club, Harare
Sat 6 Sep | 2nd T20I, Harare Sports Club, Harare
Sun 7 Sep | 3rd T20I, Harare Sports Club, Harare

Zimbabwe Test Squad:
Craig Ervine (c), Brian Bennett, Tanaka Chivanga, Trevor Gwandu, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Clive Madande†, Wessly Madhevere, Wellington Masakadza, Vincent Masekesa, Prince Masvaure, Kundai Matigimu, Blessing Muzarabani, Newman Nyamhuri, Tafadzwa Tsiga†, Nick Welch, Sean Williams

South Africa Test Squad:
Keshav Maharaj (c), Corbin Bosch, David Bedingham, Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Tony de Zorzi, Zubayr Hamza, Kwena Maphaka, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi (2nd Test), Lhuan-dre Pretorius†, Lesego Senokwane, Prenelan Subrayen, Kyle Verreynne†, Codi Yusuf

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Zimbabwe T20I Squad
Sikandar Raza(c), Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Trevor Gwandu, Clive Madande†, Wessly Madhevere, Tinotenda Maposa, Wellington Masakadza, Vincent Masekesa, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Newman Nyamhuri, Tafadzwa Tsiga†

South Africa T20I Squad:
Rassie van der Dussen (c), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee, Reeza Hendricks, Rubin Hermann†, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Nqabayomzi Peter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius†,
Andile Simelane

New Zealand T20I Squad:
Mitchell Santner (c), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Zakary Foulkes, Matt Henry, Bevon Jacobs,
Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert†, Ish Sodhi

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Zimbabwe Test Squad
Craig Ervine (c), Brian Bennett, Tanaka Chivanga, Ben Curran, Trevor Gwandu, Roy Kaia, Clive Madande†, Tanunurwa Makoni, Wellington Masakadza, Vincent Masekesa, Blessing Muzarabani, Newman Nyamhuri, Sikandar Raza, Brendan Taylor (2nd Test), Tafadzwa Tsiga†, Nick Welch, Sean Williams

New Zealand Test Squad:
Tom Latham(c), Tom Blundell†, Devon Conway†, Jacob Duffy, Matthew Fisher, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Will O’Rourke, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Nathan Smith, Will Young

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Zimbabwe ODI Squad
Craig Ervine (c), Brian Bennett, Johnathan Campbell, Ben Curran, Brad Evans, Trevor Gwandu, Clive Madande†, Wessly Madhevere, Ernest Masuku, Tony Munyonga, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Newman Nyamhuri, Sikandar Raza,
Brendan Taylor†, Sean Williams

Sri Lanka ODI Squad
Charith Asalanka(c), Dushmantha Chameera, Asitha Fernando, Nuwanidu Fernando, Janith Liyanage, Dilshan Madushanka, Nishan Madushka†, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Mendis†, Pathum Nissanka, Milan Rathnayake, Pavan Rathnayake, Sadeera Samarawickrama†, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Dunith Wellalage

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Zimbabwe T20I Squad
Sikandar Raza(c), Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Brad Evans, Trevor Gwandu, Clive Madande†, Tinotenda Maposa, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Brendan Taylor†, Sean Williams

Sri Lanka T20I Squad
Charith Asalanka(c), Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Nuwanidu Fernando, Vishen Halambage, Dushan Hemantha, Chamika Karunaratne, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Mendis†, Kamil Mishara, Pathum Nissanka, Matheesha Pathirana, Kusal Perera†, Dasun Shanaka, Maheesh Theekshana, Nuwan Thushara, Dunith Wellalage

 

[Jack Mundy]

Zimbots had saf 4-50 but they've kicked on. Imagine if Australia played second string team against weak nations?! Outrage I think

 

[PhatBoy]

This Pretorius who is on the cusp of a century on debut in at almost a run a ball with his side in all sorts of trouble is maybe one to keep an eye on for SA as they try and build a batting line up.

You’d have to think they will not be locked into anything given how up and down their players have been - Bavuma and Markram are probably their bankers or closest thing to it.

Pretorius is 19, and has hit 3 centuries in his 7 first class games to date, which is possibly about to become 4 in 8, plus a half century

 

[PhatBoy]

Zimbots had saf 4-50 but they've kicked on. Imagine if Australia played second string team against weak nations?! Outrage I think

Yeah the thing about that is, Australia refuses to play them. Australia hasn’t toured Bangladesh for a decade, even though Bangladesh were good enough to draw the series 1-1.
Australia has hosted Bangladesh once in their existence. Australia has toured toured Zimbabwe once - for one test, and hosted them once. Zimbabwe has been a test nation for 33 years. The last time was 20 years ago.

Australia hasn’t played Ireland or Afghanistan yet.

So criticise them all you want. I’d be more inclined to praise them for actually fielding a team against them at all.

At any rate, 7 of this SA side have been in their test team in the past 12 months

 

[Jack Mundy]

Yeah the thing about that is, Australia refuses to play them. Australia hasn’t toured Bangladesh for a decade, even though Bangladesh were good enough to draw the series 1-1.
Australia has hosted Bangladesh once in their existence. Australia has toured toured Zimbabwe once - for one test, and hosted them once. Zimbabwe has been a test nation for 33 years. The last time was 20 years ago.

Australia hasn’t played Ireland or Afghanistan yet.

So criticise them all you want. I’d be more inclined to praise them for actually fielding a team against them at all.

At any rate, 7 of this SA side have been in their test team in the past 12 months

Windies and sri Lanka haven't been great. Feels like something Australia wouldn't do. Of course the big three have the luxury to approach test cricket differently. Saying that India doesn't always run best team.

 

[whatwhatsaywhat]

fantastic that there's an official live stream of this test series

saffies suffering from a premiership hangover already? zimbos started well

 

[PhatBoy]

Windies and sri Lanka haven't been great. Feels like something Australia wouldn't do. Of course the big three have the luxury to approach test cricket differently. Saying that India doesn't always run best team.

Australia literally just sat out its captain of a Sri Lanka tour to give his ankle a rest while he waited for the birth of his child, citing the fact that it was a dead rubber as part of the WTC among other things.

This is a dead rubber for the WTC for SA as Zimbabwe are not part of the WTC.

Really don’t think it’s that big a deal for a side still trying to find its best batting combination in particular.

 

[Jack Mundy]

Australia literally just sat out its captain of a Sri Lanka tour to give his ankle a rest while he waited for the birth of his child, citing the fact that it was a dead rubber as part of the WTC among other things.

This is a dead rubber for the WTC for SA as Zimbabwe are not part of the WTC.

Really don’t think it’s that big a deal for a side still trying to find its best batting combination in particular.

Lol, where did I say it was bad or good?! Just different to Aussie approach. Cummins decision was popular with some of i remember

 

[PhatBoy]

Lol, where did I say it was bad or good?! Just different to Aussie approach. Cummins decision was popular with some of i remember

I know I’m just saying it’s not like it’s an unprecedented thing to take certain opportunities to rest or blood players and rightly no one had an issue with it

SA did cop it deluxe when they sent a B team to NZ even though the logic of it was very understandable

 

[Sea fog]

So their 19 year old debutant got 153 off 160 balls and Bosch who did not have an average prior to this match because of his unbeaten 81 is unbeaten on 100 atm.

 

[Bedi]

Great start by Zimbabwe but it's all turned to shit since. 2 down for 38 and Bennett retired hurt

 

[Sammo360]

So their 19 year old debutant got 153 off 160 balls and Bosch who did not have an average prior to this match because of his unbeaten 81 is unbeaten on 100 atm.

Stays unbeaten. Bosch's highest FC scores. Apparently had never scored a hundred at any level of cricket.

 

[Bedi]

Australia literally just sat out its captain of a Sri Lanka tour to give his ankle a rest while he waited for the birth of his child, citing the fact that it was a dead rubber as part of the WTC among other things.

This is a dead rubber for the WTC for SA as Zimbabwe are not part of the WTC.

Really don’t think it’s that big a deal for a side still trying to find its best batting combination in particular.

Difference is that this is SA 2nd XI. Very disappointing

 

[PhatBoy]

Difference is that this is SA 2nd XI. Very disappointing

Is it?

Every single player in the side apart from the 2 debutantes and Brevis was:

In the WTC final (Bedingham, Maharaj, Mulder, Verreyne)
In the WTC final squad (De Zorzi, Bosch)
In the XI in the Pakistan or Bangladesh series that they played immediately before the WTC final (Maphaka, De Zorzi, Bosch, Breetzke)

Maphaka came into the side against Pakistan and bowled like the wind and everyone loved it. Then he got left out. Ngidi hadn’t bowled with a red ball for over a year, got picked for the final and did a great job, is it a huge problem if they go back to a 19 year old tearaway and give him another go now? Their batting has been very suspect in particular, why wouldn’t they take the chance to get some other guys in the mix. Especially when the last time they did that (the NZ series) they got Bedingham out of it.

 

[Bedi]

Is it?

Every single player in the side apart from the 2 debutantes and Brevis was:

In the WTC final (Bedingham, Maharaj, Mulder, Verreyne)
In the WTC final squad (De Zorzi, Bosch)
In the XI in the Pakistan or Bangladesh series that they played immediately before the WTC final (Maphaka, De Zorzi, Bosch, Breetzke)

Maphaka came into the side against Pakistan and bowled like the wind and everyone loved it. Then he got left out. Ngidi hadn’t bowled with a red ball for over a year, got picked for the final and did a great job, is it a huge problem if they go back to a 19 year old tearaway and give him another go now? Their batting has been very suspect in particular, why wouldn’t they take the chance to get some other guys in the mix. Especially when the last time they did that (the NZ series) they got Bedingham out of it.

Absolutely it is. Without Rabada, Jansen, Bavuma or Markram, you think they would've beaten Australia? It's the core of their side. Meanwhile Rickelton and Stubbs have also been big contributors who aren't playing. Neither of us know the decision making that went into selection, ie did Jansen and Rabada want to play (or are they too busy celebrating, bonging on and may fail another test), or selectors don't want to risk injury, or just an opportunity to blood new talent. But either way, not sending their best side is disrespecting Zimbabwe. Minnows they may be, but if they're treated in such a way, that's the way they'll forever remain. In regards to your discussion with another poster on here, I agree 100% with them, no chance Australia would do that. Sure they'd rest a few, but any opportunity to represent the country is one no players would turn down. .

 

[Bedi]

fantastic that there's an official live stream of this test series

saffies suffering from a premiership hangover already? zimbos started well

hope your stream is better than mine, keeps on dropping out

 

[Around the Wicket]

19 year old gets a ton for South Africa.. they need a good young batsmen.. hopefully he is the goods

 

[PhatBoy]

Absolutely it is. Without Rabada, Jansen, Bavuma or Markram, you think they would've beaten Australia? It's the core of their side. Meanwhile Rickelton and Stubbs have also been big contributors who aren't playing. Neither of us know the decision making that went into selection, ie did Jansen and Rabada want to play (or are they too busy celebrating, bonging on and may fail another test), or selectors don't want to risk injury, or just an opportunity to blood new talent. But either way, not sending their best side is disrespecting Zimbabwe. Minnows they may be, but if they're treated in such a way, that's the way they'll forever remain. In regards to your discussion with another poster on here, I agree 100% with them, no chance Australia would do that. Sure they'd rest a few, but any opportunity to represent the country is one no players would turn down. .

When Australia actually starts playing those teams, you can draw that comparison.

Regarding Bavuma, I’d suspect his absence might be a fraction more related to the serious hamstring injury that dominated headlines during the WTC final than anything else so he’s an automatic non starter. That’s a spot they HAVE to fill.

Stubbs has hit 71 in 7 innings. 6 of those innings were 9 or less. Time to maybe have a look at an alternative?? Gee, could be an opportunity….

Prior to the WTC, Jansen played 14 IPL games and is along with Rabada arguably their most valuable resource. He’s a 200+ centimetre beanpole without a skerrick of fat on him. I’d be handling him with kid gloves too.

 

[Jack Mundy]

Great start by Zimbabwe but it's all turned to shit since. 2 down for 38 and Bennett retired hurt

Touch wood, their best two bats are in - both pushing 40 years old or maybe past that

 

[Bedi]

When Australia actually starts playing those teams, you can draw that comparison.

What you're not factoring in is that, as neighbouring nations, there's a bit of spice between these two sides. Can't entirely speak for South Africans (as in they're so arrogant they look down on Zimbabwe to even bother forming an opinion), but Zimbabweans certainly aren't enamoured by them. And who can blame them, lol. It's very evident when travelling in Zimbabwe to see the difference between the two countries. Zimbabeans the most gentle, friendly people you'll ever meet while South Africans are the opposite with their arrogant, bullish demeanour. (Something about Dutch, South African and Isrealis that really rubs me up the wrong way). But racism aside, as a cricket fan, I remain absolute that this it's utter bullshit that SA are too cool for school to bother sending their best players. So much that i probably won't bother watching much of this game. A shame, as i was looking forward to it.

 

[Bedi]

Touch wood, their best two bats are in - both pushing 40 years old or maybe past that

A depressing truth, but both still great cricketers. At their peak they were good enough to represent any side in the world. Brendan Taylor the best of the lot, so shame he wasn't available for this.

 

[PhatBoy]

What you're not factoring in is that, as neighbouring nations, there's a bit of spice between these two sides. Can't entirely speak for South Africans (as in they're so arrogant they look down on Zimbabwe to even bother forming an opinion), but Zimbabweans certainly aren't enamoured by them. And who can blame them, lol. It's very evident when travelling in Zimbabwe to see the difference between the two countries. Zimbabeans the most gentle, friendly people you'll ever meet while South Africans are the opposite with their arrogant, bullish demeanour. (Something about Dutch, South African and Isrealis that really rubs me up the wrong way). But racism aside, as a cricket fan, I remain absolute that this it's utter bullshit that SA are too cool for school to bother sending their best players. So much that i probably won't bother watching much of this game. A shame, as i was looking forward to it.

But again they’ve left out Rabada and Jansen and Markram. That’s basically it - maybe you could argue Rickelton. All the batsmen they’ve left out, in addition to Bavuma being injured and Stubbs being badly out of form, have played the entire IPL season.

I don’t see Ngidi as being in their best side, I think that was a ‘we are going to pick him for this game specifically because of the conditions and his experience’ but regardless he returns to the squad for the second test anyway.

Everyone else is a part of that squad, and it is also worth remembering that the whole idea of the WTC means that when one cycle ends, another begins, so for all anyone knows they see the end of the last one as a cut off point, and they get these two tests to experiment and then get started on the next one when they go to Pakistan and India.

I can’t speak for what their attitudes are over there as I don’t know enough about general relations between the two. they keep playing Zimbabwe more than a lot of other sides so they’re doing better than a fair few nations.

If they were to lose it would serve them right, understandably, but they’re entitled to try other players.

 

[Bedi]

When Australia actually starts playing those teams, you can draw that comparison.

Regarding Bavuma, I’d suspect his absence might be a fraction more related to the serious hamstring injury that dominated headlines during the WTC final than anything else so he’s an automatic non starter. That’s a spot they HAVE to fill.

Stubbs has hit 71 in 7 innings. 6 of those innings were 9 or less. Time to maybe have a look at an alternative?? Gee, could be an opportunity….

Prior to the WTC, Jansen played 14 IPL games and is along with Rabada arguably their most valuable resource. He’s a 200+ centimetre beanpole without a skerrick of fat on him. I’d be handling him with kid gloves too.

What's going on with Bavuma?

Edit, as in obviously injured, but possibly i misread yr post that he's missing for reasons beyond his injury?

 

[Bedi]

But again they’ve left out Rabada and Jansen and Markram. That’s basically it - maybe you could argue Rickelton. All the batsmen they’ve left out, in addition to Bavuma being injured and Stubbs being badly out of form, have played the entire IPL season.

I don’t see Ngidi as being in their best side, I think that was a ‘we are going to pick him for this game specifically because of the conditions and his experience’ but regardless he returns to the squad for the second test anyway.

Everyone else is a part of that squad, and it is also worth remembering that the whole idea of the WTC means that when one cycle ends, another begins, so for all anyone knows they see the end of the last one as a cut off point, and they get these two tests to experiment and then get started on the next one when they go to Pakistan and India.

I can’t speak for what their attitudes are over there as I don’t know enough about general relations between the two. they keep playing Zimbabwe more than a lot of other sides so they’re doing better than a fair few nations.

If they were to lose it would serve them right, understandably, but they’re entitled to try other players.

Which is pretty much everything. Rabada and Jansen are carrying the side. And without their only other two experienced players, it's a shell of a side.

 

[PhatBoy]

What's going on with Bavuma?

Edit, as in obviously injured, but possibly i misread yr post that he's missing for reasons beyond his injury?

Just as in he would almost certainly be playing - he didn’t play IPL as far as I know and would probably not miss a chance to play if offered the rest. He just needs to recover