Ireland vs Zimbabwe Prediction: Both teams had not performed well in tests

Ireland and Zimbabwe are going head to head in the One Off Test at Civil Service Cricket Club, Belfast on 25th July 2024. Both teams have not performed well in tests in recent games they have played in. Who will win this game of cricket?

Despite securing their first-ever Test victory in their last game against Afghanistan, the Irish skipper Andrew Balbirnie is eyeing back-to-back wins. Balbirnie has played all 8 of Ireland's Test matches, scoring 378 runs; he is the 2nd-highest run-scorer in the side, and he will be the leader of their batting lineup with the return of Peter Moor. Moor, for his part, has posted 88 runs in 9 innings. It will be Curtis Campher at number three on their back, who, in just 5 Tests, has hit 289 runs inclusive of a century. Besides, he also has contributed with the ball for his side, taking 5 wickets.

Ireland's middle order will bank their strength on Harry Tector, Paul Stirling and Theo van Woerkom. The brilliant Tector—analogically averaging 37—has pooled 370 runs in 5 Tests to his name with 4 half-centuries and has been a very run machine for his team. Stirling, on the other hand, has got runs under his belt and has 319 runs, including a century and a half-century, making him a prime player for Irish cricket. In seventh is another pivotal player for the team, Lorcan Tucker, who has primarily spearheaded the run-scoring charts for his side in Tests, with 424 runs to his name at a brilliant average of 47.11.

Spearheading the bowling attack will be Mark Adair, who will pair up with Andy McBrine. Adair was simply phenomenal in the historic win when he had taken 8 wickets, having 18 in total in five Tests. McBrine has shown his prowess in batting and bowling by making 314 runs and taking 14 wickets at an economy of 3.72. The squad also introduces left-arm spinner Matthew Humphreys after his promising performance in first-class cricket, where he grabbed 15 wickets in recent outings against the West Indies Academy.

Andrew Balbirnie (capt), Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, Matthew Humphreys, Andy McBrine, Barry McCarthy, PJ Moor, Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Craig Young.

Zimbabwe will return to Test cricket after an 18-month gap, with Craig Ervine leading the side. The most experienced is Sean Williams, who has 1,332 runs from 20 tests at a healthy average of 96.2 with three centuries and five fifties. He is making a comeback into the team for not participating in the previous test series against West Indies. Leading the side with the willow in his hand, Williams has collected 1034 runs in 14 tests at an average of 41.36, including four centuries. In his final quartet of tests, he scored over 95 in his batting average by collecting 481 runs. He is also an all-rounder, taking 21 wickets while keeping a decent economy rate of 3.17.

The likes of Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, and Victor Nyauchi will assist Wellington Maskzada in the bowling department. The last-mentioned has picked up 20 wickets in eight test matches for Zimbabwe, which includes seven each against Afghanistan and Bangladesh, at an economy of slightly over three and is expected to play a crucial part in this series. Meanwhile, his partner in crime, Muzarabani, has 19 wickets in six test matches with an economy of 2.79.

Craig Ervine (capt), Brian Bennett, Johnathan Campbell, Tendai Chatara, Clive Madande (wk), Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Victor Nyauchi, Sean Williams.

The next Test match is likely to be a closely fought one as both teams have not played this format for a long time. Nonetheless, Ireland should have a better advantage if research is anything to go by; its players have more exposure to international cricket compared to Zimbabwe. Additionally, the team's batting and bowling wings have been holding up pretty well over the last few games compared to Zimbabwe, which came off a loss in its recent five matches in a T20 series against India. Prediction is that Ireland is going to carry the day against Zimbabwe.