England is poised to play its first Test match in Zimbabwe since 1996, as the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has committed in principle to a fixture during the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) future tours programme for 2027 to 2031. Discussions with Zimbabwe Cricket at the ICC’s quarterly meeting in Bali this week led to the agreement, though a firm date is yet to be settled.
The proposed one-off Test is anticipated to be held at the Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium in Victoria Falls, a new venue set to open next year. This stadium will also host four matches during the 50-over World Cup, which Zimbabwe is co-hosting with South Africa.
This visit carries significant symbolic weight, as England had not scheduled matches against Zimbabwe for more than two decades, in protest against the domestic policies of its government. The ECB had suspended all cricket ties with Zimbabwe in 2008, cancelling a planned tour for the following year.
The last Test between the two nations in Zimbabwe was in 1996, a tour remembered for a dramatic drawn first Test in Bulawayo and an outburst from then-coach David Lloyd.