ZIM vs AFG 2024, 1st Test: Queens Sports Club Pitch Report, Bulawayo Test stats and Records – Cricket Times

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Zimbabwe are set to host Afghanistan for the first Test of a two-match series at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, starting on December 26, 2024. This match marks a significant occasion as it will be Zimbabwe’s first home Boxing Day Test in 28 years, adding to the excitement surrounding the fixture.
Both teams come into this Test series following a successful limited-overs segment. Afghanistan recently clinched the T20I series 2-1 and followed it up with a convincing 2-0 victoryin the ODI series against Zimbabwe. This strong performance in white-ball cricket has boosted Afghanistan’s confidence as they transition to the red-ball format. Conversely, Zimbabwe will be looking to rebound after their recent defeats in the shorter formats, aiming to assert their dominance in the Test arena after struggling against Afghanistan historically.
The pitch at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo is known for its balanced nature, offering a fair contest between batters and bowlers. Historically, the average first innings score at this venue has hovered around 307 runs in recent matches, indicating that while scoring can be achieved, it requires skill and patience from the batters.
In terms of conditions, the pitch tends to favour bowlers, especially in the early stages of a match when the new ball may offer some seam movement. As the game progresses, however, it becomes more conducive for batting, allowing for better run-scoring opportunities. Spinners can also find assistance later in the innings as the surface wears down.
Teams winning the toss often face a strategic decision on whether to bat or bowl first, as both approaches can be successful depending on the day’s conditions. With a mix of humidity and potential cloud cover during the upcoming Test match, players will need to adapt quickly to the pitch’s behaviour.
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, Zahir Shehzad, Rashid Khan, Yamin Ahmadzai, Bashir Ahmad Afghan, Naveed Zadran, and Fareed Ahmad Malik
Zimbabwe: Craig Ervine (c), Ben Curran, Brian Bennett, Johnathan Campbell, Takudzwa Chataira, Joylord Gumbie, Trevor Gwandu, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Brandon Mavuta, Nyasha Mayavo, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Newman Nyamhuri, Sikandar Raza, Sean Williams.
TAGS: Afghanistan Bulawayo Pitch Report Queens Sports Club Test Records Weather Forecast ZIM vs AFG ZIM vs AFG 2024 Zimbabwe Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan
CATEGORY: Afghanistan Featured Test Zimbabwe
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