Black Caps Battered! Zim Wins Toss, Latham OUT! Test Cricket Drama!

By: Danilo Pérez Published On: 30/07/2025

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Big news from Bulawayo! Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bat against New Zealand in the first Test match between the two nations in almost a decade. The match kicked off at Queens Sports Club on Wednesday, marking a significant return to Test cricket for both teams.

However, it's not all sunshine and roses for the Black Caps. Captain Tom Latham has been ruled out due to a shoulder injury sustained while fielding in a T20 match in England earlier this month. He's staying with the squad, hoping to recover in time for the second Test starting on August 7th.

Mitch Santner, the white-ball captain, is stepping up to lead the team in Latham's absence. This marks Santner's debut as captain in Test matches, becoming New Zealand's 32nd men’s Test captain. He recently led the team to victory in a T20 tri-series against Zimbabwe and South Africa.

"Mitch did a wonderful job with the T20 squad," said head coach Rob Walter. "He was excellent from a strategy point of view and he has a strong understanding of the game."

Adding to New Zealand's woes, Glenn Phillips is also out of the two-match series due to a groin strain. Kane Williamson remains unavailable, and fast bowler Kyle Jamieson is at home for the birth of his first child.

Despite the setbacks, Santner remains optimistic. While he admitted he would have preferred to bat first, he's hoping the soft pitch will favour New Zealand's three fast bowlers – Matt Henry, Will O’Rourke, and Nathan Smith – early on.

Zimbabwe is bolstered by the return of all-rounder Sikandar Raza and opener Ben Curran. Sean Williams is their key batsman, having scored 577 runs in seven matches this year. This series, however, is not part of the World Test Championship. Zimbabwe has played seven test matches this year, losing six and winning one.

New Zealand has historically dominated the matchup, winning 11 of their 17 Test matches against Zimbabwe and drawing six. This is their first encounter in the traditional format since 2016.