Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan 2024 Test series: Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo pitch history and Test records

Queens Sports Club will host the Boxing Day Test match between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan, starting on December 26. The start time for the match is 1.30pm IST (10am Local Time).

Zimbabwe will play host to a Test series against Afghanistan for the first time in international cricket history. The second Test will start on January 2, with Bulawayo being the venue for that game as well.

Before the first ball of the Test series is bowled, here's a look at the pitch history and Test records of Queens Sports Club.

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Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo Test records

The Zimbabwean team has an embarrassing 1-15 win-loss record in Test matches hosted by Bulawayo. Their only win came against Bangladesh back in the year 2001.

Zimbabwe will try to record their first Test win at this venue in 23 years. Here are some important numbers to know from the previous matches played in Bulawayo:

Test matches played: 25

Won by teams batting first: 4

Won by teams batting second: 12

Matches drawn: 9

Highest individual score: 270 - Kumar Sangakkara (SL) vs Zimbabwe, 2004

Best bowling figures (innings): 8/109 - Paul Strang (ZIM) vs New Zealand, 2000

Best bowling figures (match): 13/99 - Gudakesh Motie (WI) vs Zimbabwe, 2003

Highest team total: 713/3 dec - Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe, 2004

Lowest team total: 104 - Zimbabwe vs West Indies, 2003

Highest successful run-chase: 184/2 - India vs Zimbabwe, 2001

Average first innnings score: 308

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Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo pitch report

The pitch in Bulawayo is generally slow. Spinner Gudakesh Motie took 13 wickets for West Indies in a Test against Zimbabwe last year. The average scoring rate is less than three runs per over.

Teams batting second have won a majority of the Tests at this venue. However, the highest successful run-chase has been of 184 runs only.

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Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo last Test

West Indies beat Zimbabwe by an innings and four runs in the last Test at this venue. Left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie took seven wickets in the first innings and six wickets in the second innings to bamboozle the Zimbabwean batters.

Roston Chase played an impressive knock of 70 runs for the visiting team. Here's a summary of that game:

Brief scores: West Indies 292 (Roston Chase 70, Victor Nyauchi 5/56) beat Zimbabwe 115 (Innocent Kaia 38, Gudakesh Motie 7/37) & 173 (Craig Ervine 72, Gudakesh Motie 6/62) by an innings and 4 runs.