Brandon Moyo Zimpapers Sports Hub TWENTY two years! That’s how long Zimbabwe has waited for this moment − a return to the grand theatre of Test cricket against England. And, today, the Chevrons finally get their curtain call, a reunion 22 years in the making, and one heavy with history, emotion and pride. When the Chevrons last faced England in a Test series back in 2003, cricket’s landscape was very different. Facebook didn’t exist, James Anderson was a raw debutant and Zimbabwe’s team was still led by stalwarts like Heath Streak and Grant Flower. Fast forward to 2025 and Anderson has retired as England’s highest ever wicket-taker and Zimbabwe, at long last, are back where they believe they belong. “It’s been a long time coming,” Zimbabwe head coach Justin Sammons told Zimpapers Sports Hub. “There’s been a lot of waiting, a lot of hoping. For the boys to finally be here, standing on English soil, ready for a Test match, it means the world.” For Sammons, this isn’t just a match, it’s a measuring stick. “This is where your cricket fundamentals are tested. This is the format that strips you bare. There’s no hiding in Test cricket and that’s exactly why we’ve been fighting to be here. “We want to be judged. We want to be challenged.” The match is a symbolic milestone for Zimbabwe Cricket, long starved of high profile five day fixtures due to administrative turbulence and shifting international priorities. Their last Test against a top-tier side outside the subcontinent was over five years ago. Since then, it’s been a steady rebuild under Sammons, with players like Sikandar Raza and Sean Williams mentoring the next generation. Zimbabwe’s probable XI includes Brian Bennett, the promising Nick Welch and England-born opener Ben Curran, the son of the late former Zimbabwe captain Kevin Curran. There’s poetry in that return. Curran, who is now poised to open the innings at the same ground where his father once coached, called the occasion “deeply personal.” “This isn’t just a match for us. For guys like me, it’s a tribute to our roots. My dad would’ve been so proud to see Zimbabwe back at Trent Bridge,” he told Zimpapers Sports Hub. While England announced their XI early, a side led by Ben Stokes and featuring debutant pacer Sam Cook, their camp isn’t underestimating the visitors. Star batter Harry Brook urged caution. “They beat Bangladesh recently, didn’t they? You can’t take your eyes off a team that’s got that kind of fire in them,” said Brook. “They’ll be desperate to prove they belong, and that makes them dangerous.” “We want to dominate, but we’re not arrogant about it. Zimbabwe has fighters. You give them a window, and they’ll barge in through the door.” Brook, who will soon take over as England’s white ball captain, also revealed that senior players have been briefing the squad on Zimbabwe’s cricketing DNA. Captain Craig Ervine, who last played a match on English soil over a decade ago in county cricket, emphasised the emotional pull of this fixture. “I can’t tell you what it means to be back playing a Test in England. You dream of these things. For some of us, it might be our last chance. For others, it’s the start of something incredible.” Today, Zimbabwe isn’t just playing a Test. They’re making a statement. England XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (capt), Jamie Smith (wk), Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue, Sam Cook, Shoaib Bashir Zimbabwe Probable XI: Ben Curran, Brian Bennett, Nick Welch, Craig Ervine, Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Wessly Madhevere, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Richard Ngarava, Victor Nyauchi, Blessing Muzarabani