ZIMBABWE will bank on openers Ben Curran and Brian Bennett to bring back stability when they face New Zealand at Queens Sports Club, in Bulawayo for the Test series.
The 16-man squad announced by Zimbabwe Cricket Yesterday will see the Chevrons take on New Zealand from 30 July to 3 August and then August 7 to 11.
Curran makes a return after recovery from the fractured hand suffered during a practice game against South Africa in Arundel early June.
He was hit by a Kagiso Rabada delivery in the fifth over of Zimbabwe’s innings and retired hurt on 4, before an x-ray confirmed the fracture.
He has been out since then.
Bennett on the other hand suffered concussion and missed part of the South Africa series, and the New Zealand test series marks his return to the longer version of the game.
The two top order have already shown that together, they can give Zimbabwe a firm foundation regardless of format.
Curran is brother to England internationals Sam and Tom, and he made his debut for Zimbabwe in December 2024.
He has played six Tests, including one against England, six ODIs while he remains uncapped in T20.
As the New Zealand test series approaches, he will carry part of the burden at a time the Chevrons have been humiliated in the T20I tri-series, losing three matches in a row, against South Africa (twice) and New Zealand, crashing out of the tri-series in the process.
In the 7 wicket defeat to South Africa (T20I) on Sunday, the Chevrons performance raised a lot of dust, with some questioning selection.
For the test, four changes to the Zimbabwe side that featured in the recent Test series against South Africa have been made.
Curran is joined in the squad by Sikandar Raza, Roy Kaia and Tanunurwa Makoni, with the quartet of Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Prince Masvaure, Wessly Madhevere and Kundai Matigimu making way. Bennett replaced Dion Myers.
The team will be led by Craig Ervine, with experienced campaigners Sean Williams and Blessing Muzarabani providing key support in the batting and bowling departments respectively.
There was no place for Brendan Taylor, whose three-and-a-half-year ban for breaching the ICC anti-corruption code ends on July 25 and was aiming to return for this series.
Richard Ngarava, who also had a back injury and only returned for the T20I is also not part of the squad.
The upcoming series will mark the first Test meeting between Zimbabwe and New Zealand since July-August 2016, when the visitors claimed a 2-0 series win at the same venue in Bulawayo.
ZIMBABWE SQUAD FOR TEST SERIES VERSUS NEW ZEALAND
Craig Ervine (Captain), Brian Bennett, Tanaka Chivanga, Ben Curran, Trevor Gwandu, Roy Kaia, Tanun-urwa Makoni, Clive Madande, Vincent Masekesa, Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani, Newman Nyamhuri, Sikandar Raza, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Nicholas Welch, Sean Williams. — Zimpapers Sports Hub/ ZimCricket / Cspncricinfo.com