Gary Ballance set for Zimbabwe Test debut against West Indies

Former England cricketer Gary Ballance is all set to make his Test debut for Zimbabwe, in the upcoming Test series against West Indies, scheduled to be played from February 4, 2023 at the Queens Sport Club in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

Ballance had initially represented Zimbabwe during his U19 days, before heading to England to represent their national side from 2013 to 2017. And now again, the southpaw has decided to return to his place of birth to play for the national side.

Gary Ballance to debut in Zimbabwe Test cricket

The 33-year-old has been named in Zimbabwe's Test squad that will be locking horns with the West Indies side from February 4. The series will be a two-match affair. The left-handed batter had previously featured in 23 Tests for England, the last of which came in 2017, scoring a total of 1498 runs with four centuries and seven fifties at an average of 37.45.

Ballance played one T20I and two ODIs for Zimbabwe against Ireland earlier in January and notched up scores of 30, 23, and 52 in the three innings. Speaking about Zimbabwe's present Test squad, it is to be noted that Zimbabwe's regular Test skipper Sean Williams will be missing out on the series as he is still nursing a fractured finger, so, his teammate Craig Ervine will be donning the captain's hat in the Test series against the West Indies.

The hosts will also be without all-rounders Sikandar Raza and Ryan Burl who are fulfilling T20 franchise commitments abroad, while fast bowlers Tendai Chatara and Blessing Muzarabani are recuperating from thigh injuries. The series, which begins at Queens Sports Club on Saturday, will mark Zimbabwe's return to Test cricket after a gap of 18 months.