Black Caps v Zimbabwe first test: Live updates from Bulawayo
All you need to know
The Black Caps don the whites for the first time in more than seven months as they begin a two-test series against Zimbabwe, a side they have never lost against.
Who is in and out for the Black Caps?
There is no Kane Williamson (he is playing in the Hundred T20 tournament) or Glenn Phillips (groin injury), with Michael Bracewell coming in as a replacement for Phillips for just the first test before he also joins the Hundred in England.
Tom Latham was set to captain the side but has been ruled out of the first test due to a shoulder injury. Mitchell Santner will captain the test side for the first time.
Other than those omissions and the retirement of Tim Southee, it's a similar-looking squad to the last test series against England in the middle of December. Devon Conway returns after missing the third test against England for the birth of his child.
The only new name is Northern Districts fast bowler Matthew Fisher, a genuine quick, who is likely battling Nathan Smith and Jacob Duffy for the third bowling spot behind the established duo Matt Henry and Will O'Rourke.
Santner and Ajaz Patel are the spin bowling options in the squad, with Patel having a chance to continue his fine record outside of New Zealand, where he has taken all of his 85 wickets. Both are likely to play, although Bracewell's inclusion for the first test may change that.
Henry Nicholls is also in the squad, having last played in 2023, and could come into the side with Latham out of the first test.
Black Caps squad
Mitchell Santner (captain), Tom Blundell, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Matthew Fisher, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Will O'Rourke, Ajaz Patel, Rachin Ravindra, Nathan Smith, Will Young, Tom Latham (out of first test).
Zimbabwe squad
Craig Ervine (captain), Ben Curran, Roy Kaia, Clive Madande, Tanunurwa Makoni, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Nick Welch, Brian Bennett, Sikandar Raza, Sean Williams, Tanaka Chivanga, Trevor Gwandu, Wellington Masakadza, Vincent Masekesa, Blessing Muzarabani, Newman Nyamhuri.
The Black Caps 'perfect' coach Rob Walter
The other newcomer to the Black Caps is of course the man in charge. It will be Rob Walter's first test and so far he's made the perfect start at the helm of the Black Caps, with five Twenty20 victories to take out the Tri-Series. The 49-year-old South African will coach all formats until the end of the T20 World Cup in November 2028. He replaces Gary Stead who coached New Zealand to 27 test wins, the most by a Black Caps coach.
Are there World Test Championship points on the line in New Zealand-Zimbabwe series?
No. Zimbabwe are not one of the nine teams competing in the 2025-2027 World Test Championship edition. The Black Caps don't begin their WTC campaign until the home series against West Indies in December.
The Black Caps have never lost a test against Zimbabwe...
New Zealand and Zimbabwe have played 17 tests, dating back to their first meeting in 1992, and the Black Caps have won 11 with six draws. They have also won the last six straight tests against Zimbabwe, the most recent draw being in 2000 at the Basin Reserve.
The last time the two sides met was nine years ago, two tests at Bulawayo. Latham, Nicholls and Santner are the only members of the current squad who have faced Zimbabwe in a test.
Zimbabwe are coming off four successive heavy defeats, three by an innings. The last one was this month to South Africa when Proteas captain Wiann Mulder made 367 before declaring short of Brian Lara's test record. Zimbabwe's last 15 tests had a return of 12 defeats, two draws and one win against Bangladesh.
The closest Zimbabwe have come to beating the Black Caps was in 2011, when they fell 35 runs short of a fourth innings chase of 366 with New Zealand capturing the final wicket after drinks in the final session on day five.
The 1997 test could have also gone Zimbabwe's way, ending in a draw with New Zealand needing 11 more runs to win with just two wickets left.
When does play start in the first test?
Play is scheduled to begin each day at 8pm NZT.
First session: 8pm-10pm
Second session: 10.40pm-12.40am
Third session: 1am-3am
The Herald will have live updates from 8pm each day.
ThreeNow is broadcasting the tests live and free.
TAB odds Black Caps v Zimbabwe
New Zealand win $1.11
Draw $9.25
Zimbabwe win $11.50
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Black Caps v Zimbabwe: First test day two, live updates from Bulawayo
All the action from day two of the first test between the Black Caps and Zimbabwe, from Bulawayo Henry rolls Zimbabwe, before Conway gives Black Caps control in Bulawayo In the history of test cricket, New Zealand have never lost to Zimbabwe. And, if the first day in Bulawayo is anything to go by, that record will stand for another week at the very least. Even without injured captain Tom Latham, and central figures Kane Williamson and Kyle Jamieson, the Black Caps have ended day one 57 runs behind their hosts, with all 10 wickets in hand on a surface that should get better to bat on over the coming days. Stand-in skipper Mitchell Santner can be content with his charges' work, as the Black Caps will return on day two with intent to push for victory, and an unassailable lead in a two-test series that falls outside of the World Test Championship. Matt Henry once again shone in his role as the leader of New Zealand's attack, as his 6/39 skittled Zimbabwe for just 149 on a surface that captain Craig Ervine chose to bat on after winning the toss. Then, replying in the final session, the Black Caps' openers added the highest partnership of the day to reach the close at 92/0, and ate into a sizeable chunk of Zimbabwe's total. Without a test century since January 2023, Devon Conway anchored the Black Caps with an unbeaten 51, ably supported by Will Young, who was not out with 41 at stumps. And, given New Zealand effectively bat down to Henry at No 10, day two could be a long one for Zimbabwe. While this test marks the first for the Black Caps under Rob Walter – who already claimed the Twenty20 Tri-series with their hosts and South Africa – it's also a significant one for the Kiwi seam attack. Fully fledged as New Zealand's premier bowler, Henry continued his exploits with the ball to end any hopes of an intimidating first-innings score for Zimbabwe; making the most of seam movement and swing with the new ball, before returning to wrap up the tail. He wasn't alone, either. Having been forced to sit out New Zealand's last test of the home summer to accommodate Tim Southee's farewell, Nathan Smith took his chance to finish with 3/20. Meanwhile, despite going wicketless, Will O'Rourke also gave the hosts more than they bargained for, with his natural length troubling batters on both the front and back foot. Playing in whites for the first time since December 2024, it took Henry little time to slip back into his role as the leader of New Zealand's attack, and removed Zimbabwe's openers in identical fashion – both caught by Will Young at third slip. An unconvincing poke from Brian Bennett (6) yielded an edge that was well snapped up low to Young's right, before a repeat dose had Ben Curran (13) four overs later. Henry was perhaps unfortunate not to have a third; as he hit Nick Welch on the front pad, however – given Zimbabwean cricket's financial plight – no Decision Review System is in place for the series. There was no such misfortune for Smith, who picked up his first when Sean Williams dragged back onto his stumps for two at 31/3, as the Black Caps convincingly claimed the first hour. Needing a partnership, Zimbabwe's fourth wicket pair of Ervine and Welch ate up 90 balls; however, Henry's return before lunch saw the end of the latter's stay for 27. An edge to second slip was gratefully accepted by Michael Bracewell, as the break arrived at 67/4. Advertise with NZME. Either side of lunch, Henry made it two wickets in the over, as Sikandar Raza (2) was bounced out for just two, Tom Blundell diving forward to take the catch behind the stumps. But as the ball got older – and Zimbabwe's sixth-wicket pair rode their luck in a 54-run partnership – the Black Caps were forced to be patient in their attempts to break through. After watching the rest of his top order fall, Ervine was put down by Smith off his own bowling, and edged Santner past a diving Daryl Mitchell at slip on 22. Along the same lines, wicketkeeper Tafadzwa Tsiga was grassed by Conway on 19 when he cut to backward point off O'Rourke, as he and Ervine raised their milestone in 133 balls. Smith's return, though, saw the end of both. Firstly, by trapping Ervine LBW for 39 with a ball that swung back into the left-hander, and then did the same to the right-handed Tsiga for 30, as Zimbabwe reached tea at 138/7. As he'd done after lunch, Henry struck again to start the final session, either side of a shambolic runout that saw the back of Vincent Masekesa for seven. A bouncer to Newman Nyamhuri ballooned to Young to give Henry his fifth wicket – the fifth time he's taken a five-wicket bag in test cricket – before wrapping up the innings when Blessing Muzarabani's leading edge was held by Santner at cover. In response, Young and Conway – who had never opened together in test cricket before – added a half-century stand in just 81 deliveries to further hammer home New Zealand's position. Young was greeted with a short and wide delivery first ball, which he had no hesitation in cutting for four to kickstart the Black Caps' innings, with just under a session to navigate before the close. The right-hander, still yet to cement a permanent spot in New Zealand's order, was his trademark self, appearing to effortlessly push the ball into gaps left by a Zimbabwe side hunting wickets. Conway, on the other hand, was forced to weather a storm of short-pitched bowling, before finding his touch, including a number of eye-catching drives off the front foot. He raised his 50 late in the day, needing 83 balls and having hit eight boundaries. The only real threat to Conway came on 38, when a ball from Nyamhuri struck him on the knee, leaving him in clear pain. Other than that, though, this was a day that went completely to script for the Black Caps.
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