mbulelo smpofu
Brandon Moyo
NICK Welch was once again overlooked for national team selection despite his impressive Logan Cup stats as Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) announced their squad for the two-match Test series against Afghanistan yesterday.
Having missed out on selection for the ODI series which concludes tomorrow, there was hope that Welch would make the Test squad given his form in four-day cricket, however, he still could not make the red-ball squad.
The 26-year-old Mega Market Mountaineers batter is the second leading run scorer in the Logan Cup with 491 runs at an impressive average of 81.83. He is only behind Ben Curran who has managed to amass 519 runs in seven innings.
Welch’s rich vein of form sees him boast of an impressive 100% conversion rate as he has three centuries and zero fifties in his three games.
In the three matches Mountaineers have played this season, he has scored a century in all. His Logan Cup campaign got off to a flying start as he made 125 runs from 151 deliveries in the first innings of their opening game against Rhinos early November. His second ton, at that time his highest First-Class score was against Southern Rocks where he scored a brilliant 151 runs off 223 balls in a game that ended as a draw.
First-Class century number three of the season and fourth of his career was against Tuskers earlier this month where he brought up his highest score in the format. Welch scored a brilliant second innings 159 runs from 295 balls to help Mountaineers secure a draw against Tuskers.
His form and stats were, however, disregarded.
Zimbabwe’s squad for the historic two-match Test series against Afghanistan has seven uncapped players, including Curran.
The series marks a momentous occasion for Zimbabwean cricket as the country prepares to host its first Boxing Day Test at home in 28 years, set to take place from 26-30 December.
This will be followed by Zimbabwe’s inaugural New Year’s Test, scheduled for 2-6 January 2025. Both matches will be played at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.
Apart from Curran, the other uncapped players picked for the series are batter Johnathan Campbell, wicketkeeper-batters Tadiwanashe Marumani and Nyasha Mayavo as well as pace bowlers Trevor Gwandu, Takudzwa Chataira and Newman Nyamhuri.
Craig Ervine will captain the Zimbabwe side, with the experienced Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava providing a strong core to the squad.
Zimbabwe’s return to Boxing Day cricket brings back memories of their last home Boxing Day Test in 1996, a rain-affected drawn match against England at Harare Sports Club.
Since then, Zimbabwe have only played Boxing Day Tests abroad against New Zealand in 2000 and South Africa in 2017, the latter being a pink-ball day-night fixture in Port Elizabeth.
The upcoming New Year’s Test will be a first for
Zimbabwe, both at home and internationally, further adding to the significance
of this series.
ZIMBABWE TEST SQUAD:
Craig Ervine (captain), 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. – @brandon_malvin
