Craig Ervine, Zimbabwe’s captain, will not play in the two-match ODI series against Sri Lanka. Due to a strained calf, the left-handed hitter will not be able to play in the rubber.
In Craig Ervine absence, veteran all-rounder Sean Williams is leading the Zimbabwe vs. Sri Lanka series as the interim captain. The latter sustained the injury the night before the first ODI, which is scheduled for Friday, August 29 at the Harare Sports Club in Harare.
Craig Ervine has a chronic and resolving Grade I strain in his right calf and a Grade II strain in his left, according to an MRI scan.
One of Zimbabwe’s most seasoned and dependable batters is the 40-year-old. But because of injuries, he has missed a lot of games in recent years. He was on paternity leave during the Test match against Ireland in February 2025, which was his most recent absence. Both Williams and Williams returned to the squad for the home Test series in Bangladesh in April and May, but Williams had also missed that Test due to a back injury. That series against Ireland was his final ODI outing.
In his 128 ODI appearances to date, Craig Ervine has amassed 3600 runs at an average of 33.03, including four hundreds and 23 fifties. In addition, he has played 71 Twenty20 Internationals and 30 Test matches.
Brendan Taylor is back.
Craig Ervine won’t be available for Zimbabwe, but Brendan Taylor’s comeback will help them. Following a three-year ban for corruption-related crimes, the seasoned batsman returned to international cricket during the Test series against New Zealand.
After nearly four years, the right-handed hitter is finally returning to ODI cricket. From 205 ODIs, he has amassed 6684 runs at an average of 35.55. Taylor’s input will be very important, particularly without Ervine. In addition to Taylor, Zimbabwe will rely on Sikandar Raza’s versatility in the face of a gifted Sri Lankan team.
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