Two Tests against Zimbabwe in February

West Indies Men’s team will start their 2023 international year with two Test matches against Zimbabwe next February, five years after the two sides last met in a series in the long format of the game.

Cricket West Indies (CWI) said in a statement that Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) confirmed the schedule on Wednesday, with the first Test slated for February 4th to 8th and the second set for February 12th to 16th at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.

Ahead of the two-Test, rubber West Indies will have a four-day warm-up match against a local side set from January 28 to 31 at Bulawayo Athletic Club.

“The tour to Zimbabwe early in 2023 will be an important part of our 2023 Test programme, which also includes series against South Africa and India,” said CWI’s Director of Cricket Jimmy Adams.

“Having produced some good results early in 2022, the team will be eager to begin the year with strong performances in Zimbabwe.”

CWI is yet to announce a replacement for head coach Phil Simmons who resigned after the West Indies crashed out of the ICC T20 Cricket World Cup in Australia.

Zimbabwe’s last Test match was way in July 2021 against Bangladesh in Harare and, according ZC Director of Cricket Hamilton Masakadza, they will be eager to make the most of the upcoming series.

“Although it’s been a while since we last played Test cricket, our boys will be hungry and ready for some red-ball action and I believe an exciting series against one of the game’s top sides is on the cards,” he said.

The last Test Series between Zimbabwe and the West Indies was played at Queens Sports Club in October 2017.

West Indies clinched that two-match series having won the first game by 117 runs while the second match ended in a draw. (CMC)