Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) has appointed former England and Zimbabwe international Gary Ballance as a coaching consultant for the upcoming one-off Test match against England, scheduled for 22–25 May 2025 at Trent Bridge in Nottingham.
This historic fixture marks Zimbabwe’s first Test match on English soil in over two decades, with their last tour dating back to 2003. Ballance’s appointment is seen as a strategic move to bring local knowledge and international experience into Zimbabwe’s setup.
International pedigree meets homecoming
Born in Harare, the 35-year-old Ballance enjoyed a distinguished international career, representing England between 2013 and 2017 before playing for Zimbabwe in 2023. His in-depth familiarity with English conditions, developed through years at Yorkshire County Cricket Club and stints with Derbyshire and Zimbabwe Under-19, is expected to significantly aid Zimbabwe’s preparation for the high-profile encounter.
Ballance made an immediate impact in Test cricket for England, scoring 1,017 runs in just 17 innings at an average of 67.93 — second only to Sir Donald Bradman among players with 1,000+ runs and a 60+ average. He was the third-fastest England batter to reach 1,000 Test runs, achieving the milestone in April 2015 against the West Indies.
He was honoured as the ICC Men’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year in 2014 and named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 2015. Ballance retired from professional cricket in 2023 following a brief international comeback with Zimbabwe.
Strategic support for Zimbabwe’s landmark tour
Givemore Makoni, ZC Managing Director, welcomed Ballance’s addition to the coaching setup:
“We are thrilled to welcome Gary Ballance to our coaching set-up for this historic tour,” said Makoni. “His deep understanding of English conditions, gained over years of playing at the highest level, will be a valuable asset to our team’s tactical preparation.”
Following the match against England, Zimbabwe will face South Africa in a four-day tour match from 3–6 June at Arundel. That encounter is expected to serve as a vital warm-up for the Proteas ahead of their ICC World Test Championship final clash with Australia at Lord’s from 11–15 June.
The Zimbabwe squad departs for England this Friday to acclimatise and begin preparations for the much-anticipated tour.
