Ireland hosts rusty Zimbabwe in Test cricket’s newest stadium

Big picture: Test debut for Northern Ireland

Belfast’s Civil Service Cricket Ground is a stunning addition to the Test grounds list, with its verdant, lush outfield and the famous Stormont Estate behind it. The Ireland vs. Zimbabwe match on Thursday will be the 123rd time a men’s Test match is held there.

Ireland is entering their inaugural Test match against Zimbabwe fresh off a victory in their previous Test match, which will be their ninth Test in six years. They lost their first seven Test matches until winning one in March in the United Arab Emirates against Afghanistan. They will try to win two straight in their last Test of the year.

Is it possible for Ireland to accomplish that without their most well-known bowler, Josh Little, a left-arm seamer? Little claims to be “passionate about Test cricket,” but by allowing him to participate in international franchise leagues, Cricket Ireland has given him the opportunity to grow. Ireland’s assault will be spearheaded by seamers Mark Adair and Barry McCarthy, since Little is presently playing Major League Cricket in the USA.

There’s nowhere better for Adair to make an impression. Players from Northern Ireland, a component of the United Kingdom, and the Republic of Ireland make up Ireland’s cricket squad. Adair, Paul Stirling, Andy McBrine, and a few others find it particularly meaningful to play a Test match in Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland.

Zimbabwe, their rivals, are experiencing one of their worst seasons in international cricket. They are not a part of the World Test Championship, nor have they participated in the last two ODI and T20I World Cups. Zimbabwe hasn’t played the format in more than a year and has only won two Test matches since 2013—none since 2021.

With the exception of skipper Craig Ervine (20 Tests) and Sean Williams (14), none of the Zimbabwean players have participated in even ten games. Blessing Muzarabani, maybe their finest bowler, will be participating in the format for the first time since 2021, while the other four are uncapped. In order to test Ireland, Zimbabwe will require the combined white-ball experience of Muzarabani, Tendai Chatara, Victor Nyauchi, and Richard Ngarava as they have an inexperienced batting unit.

The opponent for the Zimbabweans will be none other than Peter Moor. Moor, who represented Zimbabwe in eight Test matches from 2016 to 2018, moved to represent Ireland in the previous year and is anticipated to start the batting for the home team.

Highlighted: Muzarabani and Humphreys

There was just one Test veteran who could spearhead Ireland’s spin attack: left-arm spinner Matthew Humphreys. Andrew White, the national selector, claims that Humphreys has put up “consistent performances” to warrant a spot in the side following a forgettable Test debut in Sri Lanka last year. Since his debut, he has played for Ireland Wolves in the West Indies and Nepal, where he got valuable experience. His recent form is particularly encouraging. In two first-class matches for Ireland Emerging versus West Indies Academy last month, Humphreys claimed 15 wickets at an average of 12.60, including two five-wicket hauls.

Even in white-ball cricket, towering fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani is adept at placing balls on the figurative Test-match length. In ideal circumstances in Ireland, where his mobility both off the pitch and in the air may pose a threat to opposing hitters, he will try to duplicate that. Muzarabani, who averages 24.89 and has a Test economy of 2.79, is probably Zimbabwe’s most important bowler.

Team updates

Ireland is anticipated to alter one thing following their victory against Afghanistan. Theo van Woerkom, a middle-order batsman, was left off the team, and Humphreys, a left-arm spinner, is probably going to start for the team. Stirling might bat at number five, and Lorcan Tucker—rather than Moor—will probably do wicket-keeping duties. Gavin Hoey, a legspinner, may get a chance to make his Test debut, although he is more likely to end up on the bench with seamer Graham Hume and batter James McCollum.

Ireland (likely): 1 PJ Moor, 2 Andy Balbirnie (capt), 3 Curtis Campher, 4 Harry Tector, 5 Paul Stirling, 6 Lorcan Tucker (wk), 7 Andy McBrine, 8 Mark Adair, 9 Barry McCarthy, 10 Craig Young, 11 Matthew Humphreys

Zimbabwe’s starting eleven is probably going to include a few X-factor players, as they have added ten players since their last Test match. All-rounder Jonathan Campbell and Brian Bennett, who played well in the T20Is at home against India, could make their debuts. Joylord Gumbie, Zimbabwe’s opening batsman in white-ball cricket, is probably going to keep wicket before Clive Madande.

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Zimbabwe (likely): 1 Prince Masvaure, 2 Joylord Gumbie (wk), 3 Brian Bennett, 4 Craig Ervine (capt), 5 Dion Myers, 6 Sean Williams, 7 Roy Kaia/Johnathan Campbell, 8 Victor Nyauchi, 9 Richard Ngarava, 10 Blessing Muzarabani, 11 Wellington Masakadza/Tendai Chatara