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Newcomers Ben Curran and Newman Nyamhuri Earn Call-Ups to Zimbabwe Squads for Afghanistan Series Left-hand batter Ben Curran and left-arm seamer Newman Nyamhuri have been included in Zimbabwe’s ODI and T20I squads for their upcoming home series against Afghanistan, starting December 11. Nyamhuri, who was Zimbabwe’s top wicket-taker at the 2024 Men’s U-19 World Cup, […]
Newcomers Ben Curran and Newman Nyamhuri Earn Call-Ups to Zimbabwe Squads for Afghanistan Series
Left-hand batter Ben Curran and left-arm seamer Newman Nyamhuri have been included in Zimbabwe’s ODI and T20I squads for their upcoming home series against Afghanistan, starting December 11.
Nyamhuri, who was Zimbabwe’s top wicket-taker at the 2024 Men’s U-19 World Cup, has earned his place due to his promising performances. Meanwhile, 28-year-old Ben Curran, the middle brother of England internationals Sam and Tom Curran and the son of former Zimbabwe international Kevin Curran, is set to make his debut for Zimbabwe. Having played for Northamptonshire until 2022, Ben moved to Zimbabwe, where he spent much of his childhood and developed his cricketing skills.
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Ben Curran, the leading run-scorer in both the Pro50 List A competition and the first-class Logan Cup this season, has been included in Zimbabwe’s ODI squad after recently making himself available for selection. The 28-year-old, whose cricket roots trace back to Zimbabwe where he spent much of his youth, will look to make an impact in the limited-overs series.
Newcomer Newman Nyamhuri, an 18-year-old fast bowler, has been named in both the T20I and ODI squads. Nyamhuri was Zimbabwe’s standout performer in the 2024 Men’s U-19 World Cup and has already shown promise in domestic cricket with figures of 4 for 43 in a recent List A match for Southern Rocks.
The squad features some notable absences, including Faraz Akram, Brandon Mavuta, and Clive Madande, who were part of the last series against Pakistan. Victor Nyauchi makes a return to the ODI squad, while opening batsman Takudzwanashe Kaitano is set to potentially make his T20I debut. The series begins with the first of three T20I matches on December 11 in Harare, followed by the ODI series and a two-match Test series in Bulawayo starting December 26.
T20I squad: Sikandar Raza (capt), Faraz Akram, Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Trevor Gwandu, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Wessly Madhevere, Tinotenda Maposa, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Tashinga Musekiwa, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Newman Nyamhuri
ODI squad: Craig Ervine (capt), Brian Bennett, Ben Curran, Joylord Gumbie, Trevor Gwandu, Tinotenda Maposa, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Tashinga Musekiwa, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Newman Nyamhuri, Victor Nyauchi, Sikandar Raza, Sean Williams
Former Surrey and England captain Adam Hollioake has been appointed as Kent’s new head coach on a three-year contract, set to run until the end of the 2027 season. He steps into the role following Matt Walker’s departure in September after eight years, during which Kent experienced relegation from Division One of the County Championship and finished at the bottom of the South Group in the Vitality Blast.
At 53, Hollioake brings a wealth of leadership experience, although his coaching resume is limited since his retirement from playing in 2007. As captain of Surrey between 1996 and 2003, he led the team to seven trophies, including three County Championship titles, cementing his reputation as an inspirational figure in English cricket. Hollioake also played four Tests and 35 ODIs for England, captaining the team to victory in the 1997-98 Sharjah tournament. His tactical insight was praised as innovative for his time, and he was even considered as a potential leader for the 1999 World Cup.
Hollioake’s cricket journey has been marked by personal tragedy and resilience. In March 2002, his brother Ben died in a car crash, a loss that deeply affected Adam and led him to step back from the sport after retirement. After relocating to Queensland in 2004, he launched a property business, which eventually went bankrupt, prompting a brief stint as a cage-fighter. Despite these challenges, Hollioake found his way back to cricket, coaching Hong Kong at the 2000 ACC Trophy and later taking on head coaching duties for Afghanistan’s Boost Defenders in the 2017 Shpageeza Cricket League. Even after a devastating bomb blast outside the Kabul ground where his team was playing, Hollioake chose to remain in his role.
This appointment at Kent marks Hollioake’s first major head coaching position, though he has experience as an assistant coach at Surrey in 2024 and as a batting coach for Pakistan, Queensland, and England Lions. He was even poised to join the England coaching team during the 2021-22 Ashes series at the behest of former Surrey teammate Graham Thorpe but was sidelined due to Covid-related issues.
“I’m honoured to be appointed as the head coach of Kent,” Hollioake said. “It’s an amazing chance for me to work with a great squad of players and to be involved with a county with such a rich history of success.”
“County Cricket is something that I hold extremely close to my heart, and this is an opportunity that I could not turn down.”
Kent’s director of cricket, Simon Cook, said: “Adam has shown throughout his playing and coaching career that he has outstanding leadership qualities and a winning mentality, something that was instrumental in our decision to move in a new direction following our robust and thorough search for a new men’s head coach.”
“We welcome Adam into the Kent Cricket family and look forward to his leadership of our men’s side going into the new season.”
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