Zimbabwe name former England batter as consultant for one-off Test
Set to play their first Test match on English soil since 2003, Zimbabwe have named Gary Ballance as a consultant coach for the landmark Test at Trent Bridge.
Former England and Zimbabwe international Gary Ballance has been named as a consultant coach by the latter for the upcoming one-off Test between the two sides.
Ballance, who played 39 matches for England men’s team across formats, also went on to represent Zimbabwe - the country of his birth - for seven matches.
In 2023, while playing his first Test for Zimbabwe, Ballance became only the second player to score a hundred in the longest format of the game for two different countries. He followed former South Africa and Australia international Keppler Wessels in the unique club.
The 35-year-old called time on his international career back in 2023.
Ballance will join a Zimbabwe dressing room in high spirits on the back of a competitive display in the recent Test series in Bangladesh.
The Chevrons managed to win their first Test against Bangladesh since 2018. The hosts managed to equalize the series 1-1 with a win in the second Test.
For their historic Test against England, Zimbabwe will be bolstered by the return of star all-rounder Sikandar Raza.
England and Zimbabwe lock horns in the one-off Test starting May 22 in Nottingham.