Zimbabwe begin England Test preparations in Leicester

Zimbabwe's national cricket team held their first training session in Leicester on Monday, kicking off preparations for a historic one-off Test match against England set to take place at Trent Bridge in Nottingham from May 22 to 25.

The landmark fixture marks Zimbabwe's return to the Test arena on English soil for the first time in over two decades, rekindling memories of past contests and signalling a new chapter in the team's red-ball journey.

Before the high-stakes Test, Zimbabwe will fine-tune their skills with a four-day warm-up match against a First-Class Counties XI from May 15 to 18 at the Uptonsteel County Ground in Leicester.

Speaking after Monday's session, Zimbabwe Head Coach Justin Sammons expressed satisfaction with the team's first full day of activity since arriving in England.

"Good day. Obviously, we had a long journey from Harare to Leicestershire. So, you know, Sunday was a day off in terms of our recovery – Curtly [Diesel], the strength and conditioning coach, had the guys switched on to that," Sammons said. "And then today was our first session out in the field and in the nets. I think it was excellent. Just a nice technical session. Guys are ticking their boxes there. So, yeah, happy with the way it went."

Despite the demands of international travel and unfamiliar conditions, the coach highlighted the players' enthusiasm and energy as they embraced the opportunity to compete in one of the sport's most iconic settings.

"They've got great energy. The group is really excited. I mean, I don't think you can get anything better than coming and playing Test cricket in England," he said. "So, you know, I think it's just naturally energising the group, and they are super excited to get going."

The return to England comes as Zimbabwe continues to rebuild its red-ball programme, buoyed by a recent one-all series draw against Bangladesh. Sammons views the upcoming Test as a valuable litmus test for the team's progress.

"You want to play against the best and, obviously, England are one of the best Test teams in the world," he said. "It really gives us a gauge as to where we are and what we need to do moving forward. But the guys have a real belief that they belong."

With 10 days of training and competitive cricket ahead of the Nottingham Test, including the warm-up fixture, Sammons is optimistic about the team's readiness.

"I think our preparation is excellent. We've got 10 days ahead of us of good prep. So, yeah, I don't think we could ask for anything more than that," he noted. "It's great to get a warm-up game, which is exciting. And then, obviously, as we head into Nottingham, a couple more practices there. So, like I said, from a preparation point of view, I don't think we can complain."

Following the England Test, Zimbabwe will face South Africa in a four-day match at Arundel from June 3 to 6. The fixture is expected to be a key part of South Africa's build-up to the ICC World Test Championship final against Australia at Lord's from June 11 to 15.

As Zimbabwe settle into their English tour, hopes are high for a competitive showing in Nottingham-and a step forward in their return to the pinnacle of Test cricket.