ZIM vs NZ Dream11 Prediction Today Match 1st Test: Fantasy Cricket Tips, Player Stats, Today Dream11 Team Captain and Vice Captain Choice - New Zealand tour of Zimbabwe, 2025

Zimbabwe vs New Zealand Match 1st Test Preview

ZIM vs NZ Both Teams’ Last 5 Test Record

Zimbabwe

New Zealand's recent Test form has been quite solid. They have won 3 out of the last 5 Test matches, and that too by big margins. Against Sri Lanka, they took full advantage of home conditions and defeated them easily. Then against Pakistan too, their team showed balance, where the fast bowlers created pressure with their tight line and Williamson won the match by scoring a century. They faced defeat in 2 matches against Australia, but both those matches were quite close and their bowling gave a good fight. 

Their most impressive performance came against England where they won the match by 423 runs. In that match Williamson scored a century, Latham and Conway provided solid opening partnerships and Santner turned the match by taking 7 wickets. The balance of the team is solid, the batting order seems set and the bowlers are taking wickets in every condition. They will play against Zimbabwe with full confidence and looking at their form, it seems that New Zealand will emerge as the favourites.

New Zealand

The recent form of Zimbabwe's Test team has been quite weak. They have won only one match in their last 5 Test matches, that too on home ground against Bangladesh. Their bowling performed a little well in that match, but after that the team's performance declined. They lost two consecutive Test matches badly against South Africa. The batting collapsed in both the matches and their top order did not show any fight at all. They had to face defeat by innings on the Pakistan tour, where their bowling fought a bit but the batting was completely disappointing. The story was the same against India as well. The team was all out under 200 in both the innings. Many players are not showing consistency and overall the team's confidence seems low. Both fielding and intent are missing. Now it will be even tougher for them to make a comeback against a strong team like New Zealand.

Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo Pitch Report Test

Queens Sports Club of Bulawayo is one such ground where the pitch behaves differently every day. In Test matches, the nature of this pitch is balanced. Fast bowlers get help on the first day or in the early overs. If the weather is a little cloudy, then the ball swings and there is also seam movement. Hence, opening batsmen might face problems in the beginning. But as the match progresses, the pitch starts to dry and the ball starts coming a little better. At this stage, it becomes easier for batsmen to play shots. On the third and fourth day, spin bowlers start getting help. The pitch starts to break a bit where the spinners get a turn and the batsmen have to tick.

Till now 30 Test matches have been played on this ground. The team batting first has won 8 times and the team bowling first has won the match 12 times. Meaning there is more advantage in chasing. The average score of the first innings is 324 and the average score of the fourth innings is just 182. The highest score is 713/3 which Sri Lanka made against Zimbabwe. The lowest score was 104 all out by Zimbabwe against West Indies. From these stats it is understood that if the team gets through the initial overs then a big score can be made. But in the fourth innings both pressure and spin are enough.

So if the sky is cloudy on the first day of the match then it would be better to bowl first. But if it is sunny and the pitch is dry then batting can also work. Spinners get a bigger role in the second half of the match. Smart bowling and patience-filled batting both are important at Queens Sports Club.

ZIM vs NZ Head-to-Head Records in Test

Zimbabwe and New Zealand have played a total of 17 test matches against each other. In these 17 matches, New Zealand has won 11 times whereas Zimbabwe has not won a single match yet. 6 matches have been drawn but Zimbabwe has never been able to dominate against New Zealand. This rivalry has been more one-sided where New Zealand has always had the upper hand.

The last time both teams clashed was in 2016 when New Zealand toured Zimbabwe. The second Test of that series was played at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo – the same venue where the 2025 match is also going to be played. In that match New Zealand defeated Zimbabwe by 254 runs, a comprehensive win. Tom Latham (136), Kane Williamson (113), and Ross Taylor (124*) scored centuries in the first innings and the team declared at 582/4. From Zimbabwe's side only Craig Ervine showed a bit of fight by scoring a brilliant 146 runs. The rest of the batting collapsed.

In the second innings too Williamson gave a quick declaration by scoring 68* and Taylor 67*. Zimbabwe batsmen could not hold on the second time as well, the whole team was all out for 132. Ish Sodhi and Martin Guptill (yes brother, with spin bowling!) took the wickets. This match was completely one-sided and showed both the strength and depth of New Zealand.

Interestingly, some of the key players from the 2016 match are still a part of both the teams – like Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Matt Henry, Mitchell Santner, Craig Ervine, Sean Williams, and Sikandar Raza. So this match will refresh old memories and will be a chance for the new players to write a new story.

ZIM vs NZ Match 1st Test, Predicted Playing11

Zimbabwe Predicted Playing XI

Ben Curran, Craig Ervine, Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Tanaka Chivanga, Tafadzwa Tsiga (WK), Wellington Masakadza, Newman Nyamhuri, Blessing Muzarabani, Vincent Masekesa

Injury Updates: None

New Zealand Predicted Playing XI

Tom Latham, Devon Convey, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell/Henry Nicholls, Tom Blundell, Mitchell Santner/Micheal Bracewell, Nathan Smith, Matthew Fisher/Ajaz Patel, William O'Rourke, Matt Henry

Injury Updates: None

ZIM vs NZ Dream11 Prediction: Today's Dream11 Team Captain And Vice Captain Choices

ZIM vs NZ Dream11 Prediction Small League Team

• Keeper: Devon Conway
• Batters: Sean Williams, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell
• All-rounders: Sikandar Raza, Micheal Bracewell, Mitchell Santner, Rachin Ravindra, Brian Bennett
• Bowlers: Matt Henry, Ajaz Patel

ZIM vs NZ Today Dream11 Team Captain And Vice Captain Choices

• Rachin Ravindra
• Sikandar Raza
• Mitchell Santner
• Tom Latham

ZIM vs NZ Dream11 Prediction Grand League Team

• Keeper: Devon Conway
• Batters: Sean Williams, Daryl Mitchell
• All-rounders: Sikandar Raza, Mitchell Santner, Rachin Ravindra, Brian Bennett
• Bowlers: Matt Henry, Ajaz Patel, Jacob Duffy, Blessing Muzarabani

ZIM vs NZ Today Dream11 Team Captain And Vice Captain Choices

• Sean Williams
• Jacob Duffy
• Ajaz Patel
• Devon Conway