Former England and Zimbabwe batsman joins as coach for standalone Test match
Hopping Across Countries: Gary Ballance Joins Zimbabwe's Coaching Staff for the Historic Showdown Against England
Gary Ballance, the London-born cricket whiz who swung for England and swung back to Zimbabwe, steps up to the plate once more in 2025, this time as a coaching consultant for his ancestral team. Ballance will be joining forces with Zimbabwe for their historic one-off Test against England, set to roll at Trent Bridge starting May 22.
Ballance played international cricket for both England and Zimbabwe before trading his bats for the coach's box, having kicked out his cricket gear in 2023. In his prolific journey, he landed 23 Tests for England, hitting four centuries and averaging 37.45. He made his international debut in the 2013/14 Ashes tour in Australia, stamping his name in the history books by becoming one of the rapid-fire England players ever to rake in 1,000 Test runs—a claim he now shares with young gun Harry Brook. However, a dip in his strike rates saw him booted from England's squad after their 2017 South Africa series.
Unsettled by the provincial politics surrounding his departure from Yorkshire following his involvement in Azeem Rafiq's DCMS testimony, Ballance veered back to his roots. Born to Zimbabwean parents, he donned the Zimbabwean cricket cap once more in 2023, playing one T20I, five ODIs, and a single Test against West Indies. His fifth Test century against West Indies catapulted him into a coveted club, the only other member being Keppler Wessels, the former Australian and South African player.
Following his release from Yorkshire, Ballance secured a two-year deal with Zimbabwe, embarking on a new chapter in his career. "We couldn't be more ecstatic to have Gary Ballance onboard for our coaching set-up," uttered Givemore Makoni, the Managing Director for Zimbabwe Cricket. "Ballance's masterful understanding of English cricket conditions, polished during his years gracing the international stage, will serve invaluable to our team's strategic planning as we prepare to face England."
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Related Tags:- England Vs Zimbabwe, One-off Test, 2025
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Overview: Gary Ballance, a dynamic former England and Zimbabwe cricketer, has been brought on board as a coaching consultant for Zimbabwe for the 2025 one-off Test against England. Here's a glimpse into his background, career, and the controversies that may arise out of his coaching role:
BackgroundBorn in London to Zimbabwean parents, Gary grew up excelling in cricket for Yorkshire. He eventually represented England in international cricket matches from 2013 to 2017, subsequently transitioning to Zimbabwe, the country of his birth, in 2023.
Career Highlights- England Career: Ballance made a name for himself as part of England's Test team, scoring four centuries with an average of 37.45.- Zimbabwe Career: In just a few matches, he became one of the rare players to score a Test century for two different nations, following Keppler Wessels' path.- County Cricket: Ballance spent almost a decade performing on the Yorkshire county team.
Coaching Role with Zimbabwe in 2025Zimbabwe has drafted Ballance to leverage his grasp of English cricket conditions and his experience playing at the international level in anticipation of their upcoming Test match against England in Nottingham.
ControversiesWhile there are no specific controversies tied to Ballance's coaching role, his decision to switch teams from England to Zimbabwe in 2023 could elicit a reaction, as he opted to represent the nation of his birth and join the exclusive club of players to score Test centuries for two different countries.
- In 2025, Gary Ballance, who played for both England and Zimbabwe in international cricket, will be a part of Zimbabwe's coaching staff for their historic one-off Test against England at Trent Bridge.
- The fastest England player to score 1,000 Test runs, Gary Ballance, will be leveraging his masterful understanding of English cricket conditions, gained during his years on the international stage, to aid Zimbabwe's strategic planning for the 2025 Ashes-like encounter.
- Hoping to gain insights into this unique coaching arrangement, you can stay updated on cricket news through the sports section of our website, featuring live scores, quizzes, and the latest cricket updates.
- As the 2025 international cricket calendar unfolds, the anticipated clash between England and the Ballance-led Zimbabwe promises to be one of the most exhilarating sports events of the year.
