Pretorius, Brevis to debut as SA renew Test ties with Zimbabwe
Codi Yusuf will be the third debutant for South Africa, who play a Test against Zimbabwe for the first time since 2017
Firdose Moonda
27-Jun-2025 • 7 hrs ago
Keshav Maharaj will be leading South Africa in the two Tests against Zimbabwe • Associated Press
Big Picture: A first for South Africa in over a decade
South Africa have not even had the time to take the mace on tour and they're headed off on their next assignments, though it is not a part of the new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. They're hopping across the border, without seven of the XI that won the WTC final less than two weeks ago (though Lungi Ngidi will join them for the second Test), to visit neighbours Zimbabwe, where they have not been for 11 years.
Indeed, the two countries haven't met in a Test since December 2017, and that was an experimental affair. It was South Africa's first (and to date, last) dalliance with pink ball Tests and lasted a little more than a day. Of those who played in that fixture, only Keshav Maharaj, Craig Ervine and Blessing Muzarabani will feature in this one - a sign of how much things have changed.
Maharaj will captain an inexperienced South African side after Temba Bavuma was ruled out, still nursing the hamstring injury that he batted, and battled, through in the WTC final. Three debutants - Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Dewald Brevis and Codi Yusuf - will start the first Test and there is the possibility of two others - Lesego Senokwane and Prenelan Subrayen - being used for the second as South Africa mine their depth with an eye on the future.
Ervine leads Zimbabwe and will do so during their busiest period. They have already played five Tests this year and are due six more, all at home, and will also host a white-ball series against Sri Lanka and the T20 World Cup Qualifiers.
The volume of matches has not caused a reversal in results, with Zimbabwe still struggling for wins, though they pulled off their first in four years when they beat Bangladesh in April.
Muzarabani, the other 2017 survivor, is their headliner but there's lots of other talent on offer. They have a good mix of youth and experience across the team including the longest serving active international in Sean Williams and newcomers Brian Bennett and 19-year-old left-arm seamer Newman Nyamhuri.
Still, on paper, you'd be forgiven for reading this as a mismatch of the biggest kind. South Africa are world champions, with not as much Test cricket as they'd like to have, while Zimbabwe don't even compete in the WTC, much as they would want to. But the countries share a border, and a vision for the 2027 World Cup, they will co-host with Namibia and this is the start of closer relations.
Zimbabwe are even rumoured to be planning a celebration for South Africa, to congratulate them on their WTC win and perhaps bask in some of the glory.
Form Guide
Zimbabwe: LLWLL
South Africa: WWWWW
South Africa: WWWWW
In the spotlight: Brian Bennett and Dewald Brevis
Bennett, who spent a year at South African school Kingswood, has had a dazzling start to his Test career. In seven matches, he has two centuries, one in Bulawayo and one in England, which was Zimbabwe's fastest in the format, and two half-centuries, both in Bangladesh. Though he has been up against Josh Tongue, Sam Cook and Gus Atkinson, South Africa's pace attack will likely be the quickest he has faced and could present him with his sternest challenge and/or his biggest opportunity. Bennett likes to take the ball on, and is particularly confident against the short stuff and with South Africa announcing an XI with four quicks, he maybe licking his lips at the prospect of cashing in.
It is finally time for Brevis, regarded as a prodigy on the South African scene since he topped the run-charts at the 2022 Under-19 World Cup, to strut his stuff on the big stage. Brevis has had a stellar summer, finishing second on the first-class run-scorers' list with a strike-rate of 88.69 alongside good returns in the domestic one-day cup (also the second-highest run-scorer), SA20 (sixth-highest) and IPL. Coach Shukri Conrad is most impressed by the maturity Brevis has shown since first making his international debut (in T20Is) two years ago and then facing questions over his readiness to step up. Conrad also sees him as offering them a bowling option with "not-so-filthy" legspin and is being primed for a big role in future.
Team News: Three debutants for SA
Ben Curran's broken finger has opened the door for Bulawayo's own Prince Masvaure to make a return after a year on the sidelines. Nick Welch, who missed the outing in England as Zimbabwe opted for an extra spinner, should return to No. 3 to shore up the batting line-up. With Richard Ngarava injured, Muzarabani and Tanaka Chivanga could make up the seam contingent and they will likely have three spin options in Wellington Masakadza, Vincent Masekesa and Wessly Madhevere.
Zimbabwe: (probable) 1 Brian Bennett, 2 Prince Masvaure, 3 Nick Welch, 4 Sean Williams, 5 Craig Ervine (capt), 6 Wessly Madhevere, 7 Tafadzwa Tsiga (wk), 8 Wellington Masakadza, 9 Vincent Masekesa, 10 Tanaka Chivanga, 11 Blessing Muzarabani
South Africa will hand out three new caps to Pretorius, Brevis and Yusuf, who was preferred over Subrayan in an XI that will include four quicks. Wiaan Mulder, who batted at No. 3 in the WTC final, will do so again in this series and form part of a pack that includes Corbin Bosch, Kwena Maphaka and Yusuf.
South Africa: 1 Matthew Breetzke, 2 Tony de Zorzi, 3 Wiaan Mulder, 4 David Bedingham, 5 Lhuan-dre Pretorius, 6 Dewald Brevis, 7 Kyle Verreynne (wk), 8 Corbin Bosch, 9 Keshav Maharaj, 10 Codi Yusuf, 11 Kwena Maphaka
Pitch and Conditions: Low and slow
Pitches at Queens' Sports Club are known to be hard work for both batters and bowlers, with runs coming at 3.34 to the over, with spinners slightly more effective than seamers. In five Tests since 2023, spinners have taken 85 wickets at 29.62 and seamers 71 at 34.74. What has yet to be tested is the threat that out-and-out pace will pose, which may become evident in this series. The weather is set fair for the next few weeks but mornings will be chilly with temperatures in single-figures Celsius.
Stats and Trivia: Sean Williams on top of the world
- Zimbabwe have not won a Test in Bulawayo since beating Bangladesh in 2001. Since then, they have played 20 Tests at Queens and lost 15. They have also not won a home Test since 2013, when they beat Pakistan in Harare. They have hosted 17 matches since then, lost 13 and drawn four.
- South Africa are currently on an eight-match winning streak, one fewer than their longest run of nine Tests, between 2002-03. A series sweep in Zimbabwe will give them their longest winning run.
- Williams, who has been playing international cricket for two decades, has the highest batting average among players who have scored more than 1,000 runs since 2020.
Quotes
"I am very fortunate to have the opportunity to captain the side once again and in my favourite format of the game. It's a privilege. I'm a very laid-back captain. I'm always open to advice, but I also allow the bowlers to come up with their own plans because I always believe in growth. I am someone that if I need to put my foot down, I will. I just want everyone to feel welcome and comfortable so that they can execute their skill best on the field."
South Africa's stand-in captain Keshav Maharaj reveals how he is going to manage the side in his first Test in charge
South Africa's stand-in captain Keshav Maharaj reveals how he is going to manage the side in his first Test in charge
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo's correspondent for South Africa and women's cricket