New Zealand Playing 11 vs Zimbabwe- 2nd Test, New Zealand Tour of Zimbabwe 2025
Published - 04 Aug 2025, 07:52 PM | Updated - 04 Aug 2025, 08:00 PM
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Zimbabwe will be up against New Zealand in the second of the two-match Test series. This article provides details about New Zealand's Playing 11 vs Zimbabwe for the second game of the Test series.
New Zealand Playing 11 vs Zimbabwe- 2nd Test, New Zealand Tour of Zimbabwe 2025:
Openers: Devon Conway, Will Young
New Zealand were able to put on a near-perfect performance in the first Test against Zimbabwe under the leadership of Mitchell Santner, with a young side at the helm.
The BlackCaps were good for most of the game in all three departments of the game, barring a batting collapse late in the first innings, which is something that the team management would want the batters to correct.
There are two other things that the former WTC champions would be concerned about; one is the fitness of their regular captain Tom Latham, who missed the first Test due to an injury.
New Zealand would want Latham to regain full fitness before the start of the second and final match of the series.
The second issue that New Zealand needs to address is who will replace Nathan Smith, who has been ruled out of the series after the fast bowling all-rounder picked up an injury during the first match of the ongoing series.
Other than that, New Zealand is not expected to make any change to the playing XI for the upcoming game and will open the batting with the pair of Devon Conway and Will Young.
The duo got the team off to a good start in the series opener and will look to replicate the same in the second match.
Conway scored a half-century in New Zealand's first innings and would like to carry that form to end the series on a high
Young, on the other hand, also scored 41 runs in the first innings and provided good support to his opening partner, but would be itching to prolong his innings in the next outing.
Middle-order batsmen and all-rounders: Tom Latham (c), Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (wk), Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner
The opening pair will be followed by a middle order which might see the return of Tom Latham, who will add a bit more experience to a batting lineup which also includes the likes of Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, and Tom Blundell.
The visitors will once again have a lot of batting options at their disposal with Michael Bracewell and Mitchell Santner batting at number seven and eight.
Having said that, the responsibility falls on the shoulders of Tom Latham, Rachin Ravindra, and Daryl Mitchell to provide stability in the middle order.
Mitchell, in particular, would wish to continue the form he showed in the previous game with a half-century in the first innings.
New Zealand's batting order looks like a force to reckon with, with Santner and Bracewell more than capable with the bat.
Bowlers: Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, William O'Rourke
If we talk about the Kiwi bowling lineup for the first Test, it comprised Nathan Smith, Matt Henry, and William O'Rourke, and will undergo a change with Jacob Duffy expected to replace Nathan Smith.
The onus will be on Matt Henry once again to pick up wickets with the new ball, being the senior bowler of the side.
Henry, who was the pick of the bowlers for New Zealand in the first match, will be supported by William O'Rourke.
William O'Rourke also bowled well in the first game and will look to do the same in the next match.
New Zealand's spin bowling department will be handled by Mitchell Santner and Michael Bracewell, both of whom will look to stem the flow of runs from one end and create pressure on Zimbabwe's batters.
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Zimbabwe National Cricket Team New Zealand National Cricket Team Zimbabwe vs New Zealand New Zealand vs Zimbabwe Craig Ervine Tom Latham
