In recent years, Zimbabwe has begun to re-enter the international cricket scene. Credit: Getty Images/Jekesai Njikizana
England plans to host Zimbabwe for the first time in over 20 years, marking a renewed cricket relationship between the countries, and could invite the African nation as well as Bangladesh to play Lord's Test cricket in the coming years.
England have not hosted Zimbabwe since 2003 and last played them in any bilateral series in 2004. Relations in cricket with the Soviets were marred by the political situation in Zimbabwe under Robert Mugabe's regime when England withdrew from their 2003 World Cup match. . The British government subsequently instructed England not to play Zimbabwe.
But political relations between the countries improved somewhat, and several other countries visited Zimbabwe on pre-season tours. Zimbabwe's invitation to Lorde's test match would mark the resumption of cricket relations between the countries. England is the only one of the 12 full members of the International Cricket Council that does not play Zimbabwe in any bilateral cricket in the 2022-27 Future Tours programme.
The gap between England and Zimbabwe playing in a bilateral match , conveniently the longest of the two full members, even India and Pakistan played against each other in the series as recently as 2013.
Although England toured Bangladesh last winter as part of the white ball series, they have not hosted Bangladesh in any format since 2010. The Wales Cricket Board is keen to help stimulate Test cricket around the world to keep the format up to date and is looking into inviting Zimbabwe and Bangladesh.
In both 2024 and 2025, England only have to play five Test matches in the summer at home. A venue for a sixth home Test match could potentially be found during these years, although the West Indies and the US will host the T20 World Cup in the summer of 2024.
The government's concern about the regime of the late Robert Mugabe prevented England from entering the battlefield with Zimbabwe. Photo: Getty Images/Clive Mason
Lord's has an interim deal of two test matches a year, which it has played every summer since 2000, except during the pandemic in 2020. Ticket sales for the match against Ireland were strong, highlighting the demand for test cricket at Lord's, even when it doesn't include more established nations.
Guy Lavender, Chief Executive of Marylebone Cricket Club, confirmed Telegraph Sport that Lord's hopes to continue with two test matches a year.
“We look forward to having two test matches at Lord's in 2024,” said Lavender. “Moving forward, we think hosting two test matches at Lord's every summer is a big deal as it allows you to make the best use of this incredible venue, as well as generate significant financial returns to support the development of the game.”
< p>Bangladesh has no scheduled matches in England as part of a future tour program that will run until March 2027. Strong ticket sales for Bangladesh's matches during the 2017 European Cup and 2019 World Cup, as well as their one-day international series against Ireland at Chelmsford this year, have shown interest in Bangladesh's games in England. Traveling from Bangladesh, even for a one-off test, can also help the ECB in its attempt to increase engagement with the British Bangladeshi community.
Richard Gould, the ECB's chief executive, stressed the need for the test game to be vibrant around the world. He recently said on the Final Word podcast that the board is looking for ways to “encourage people to not only play Test but make sure they can pay their players and pay them well so they want to play Test cricket again.”
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