West Indies tour of Zimbabwe

1st Test Match: ZIM vs WI

Preview

ZIM and WI will lock horns for the 1st Test match of the Windies tour of Zimbabwe 2023. The match will be played at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe on Saturday, 04 February at 01:30 PM IST. The Hosts play in the whites after an 18-month gap, and the new-look side will look forward to a positive show against the Caribbean side. There are several new players in the squad, and the side shall look to do well in home conditions. The Visitors are coming here after a poor tour of Australia and would like to start the series positively.  

ZIM has a poor record against the WI. They haven’t defeated them in a Test Match yet, which will burden the young side. In the past decade, the side has managed only three test wins, which doesn’t inspire confidence. It remains to be seen how Zimbabweans approach this game, as West Indies is known for their inconsistency.

Zimbabwe's new skipper, Craig Ervine, has a big task ahead, as they will miss the services of some of their big players. The Hosts have new faces who haven’t played in the longer format, and it will be a challenge for them against an established side. The left-handed batting all-rounder will have to use his experience and guide the young side to a win.  

The left-handed batter Gary Balance’s entry brightens the prospects of their batting, and he must add runs at the top with youngster Tanunurwa Makoni. Skipper Ervine must use his experience well in this game and build partnerships with Milton Shumba and Joylord Gumbie. Brad Evans, Innocent Kala, and Chamu Chibhabha also have to come up with contributions during the game.  

The Likes of fast bowlers Richard Ngarava and Wellington Masakadza will have to grab early wickets as WI have two of their best players at the top. Donald Tripano has gained experience, and he has an important role to play in this game. ZIM will also expect a good show from Chamu Chibhabha and Evans with the ball. 

Windies skipper Kraigg Brathwaite’s side comes into this series after a humiliating loss against the Kangaroos, where they suffered big losses in the two-match series. The WI captain shall look to get over that with a win here. They are stronger than the hosts, and Brathwaite would like his players to perform to their potential.  

The arrival of solid batter Tagenarine Chanderpaul performed well in Australia, and he will look to carry this form forward and offer a good start with skipper Brathwaite. Blackwood must score runs at No. 3 and cement his place in the side. He must build partnerships with Devon Thomas and the all-rounder Jason Holder in the middle order. The side will also like runs from Joshua Da Silva and Roston Chase down the order.  

The veteran fast bowler Kemar Roach comes to the side and would like to use his experience and deliver early wickets alongside the young gun bowler Alzarri Joseph. The all-rounder Holder is a champion bowler, and he will look to trouble the Zimbabweans along with Shannon Gabriel. Gudakesh Motie and Roston Chase shall look to use the slowness in the surface and trouble the hosts.

Match Details

Match: ZIM vs WI, 1st Test Match, West Indies tour of Zimbabwe

Date: Saturday, February 04, 2023

Time: 01:30 PM

Venue: Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

Pitch & Weather Report

It is going to be overcast conditions over Bulawayo beginning Feb 4 for the first Test between the two sides and it will suit the seamers. Spinners are expected to enjoy the conditions from Day 3 onward. The pitch is expected to be a tough one to bat in the first two days of the first Test between ZIM and WI. The side batting first will be happy to have 360-370 runs on the board in the first innings.

The pitch here favours the seamers and offers fast bowlers early assistance. Batters who get used to these conditions have done well, as spending time on the crease is the key to success. As the pitch starts wearing down, spinners do well at Bulawayo.

Rain is predicted for the first two days of the game. It will make batting a challenge on this surface. Batting conditions would ease from Day 3 onward in this first Test match. The side winning the toss shall like to invite the opposition to bowl first in this game.

The maximum temperature will remain at 26°C, with a low of 17°C with 75% humidity, and a light wind speed of 14 Km/hr for the first Test between ZIM and WI on Feb 04. Some rain is expected in Bulawayo on the morning of the match day, with a 72% chance of precipitation.

ZIM vs WI Squads

ZIM: Craig Ervine (C), Gary Ballance, Chamunorwa Chibhabha, Tanaka Chivanga, Bradley Evans, Joylord Gumbie, Innocent Kaia, Tanunurwa Makoni, Wellington Masakadza, Kudzai Maunze, Brandon Mavuta, Richard Ngarava, Victor Nyauchi, Milton Shumba, Donald Tiripano, Tafadzwa Tsiga

WI: Kraigg Brathwaite (C), Jermaine Blackwood, Nkrumah Bonner, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Roston Chase, Joshua Da Silva, Shannon Gabriel, Kemar Roach, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Raymon Reifer, Devon Thomas, Jomel Warrican, Gudakesh Motie.

ZIM vs WI: Probable XIs

ZIM: Craig Ervine (c), Richard Ngarava, Donald Tripano, Gary Balance, Wellington Masakadza, Brad Evans, Joylord Gumbie (wk), Tanunurwa Makoni, Innocent Kala, Milton Shumba, Chamu Chibhabha

WI: Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Jermaine Blackwood, Devon Thomas, Jason Holder, Joshua Da Silva (wk), Roston Chase, Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach, Shannon Gabriel, Gudakesh Motie

Match Prediction

The Hosts come here after a long break, and it isn’t easy to do well in the longest format of the game. Zimbabwe has an inexperienced batting side, barring a couple of players. ZIM has to punch above their weight to win this game. The Visitors have a strong batting line-up and experienced fast bowlers. They will enjoy the overcast conditions more than the hosts. We say Windies to dominate this first Test match away from their home.

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