Ervine elated after Zimbabwe’s rare test win against Afghanistan, says it is ‘Something you can put in your pocket’.
For Zimbabwe, 2025 has been fantastic. They qualified for the next T20 World Cup despite missing the previous three ICC competitions. They achieved their first home Test victory in more than ten years three weeks later. Brendan Taylor and other senior players have returned to the team. Players like Ben Curran and Brad Evans, who are very young, are demonstrating their abilities. Craig Ervine, the captain, had many reasons to be pleased, but ultimately he was just relieved.
“We’ve been in good positions before and we have let it slip,” Ervine said at the post-match press conference. “So, you know, in this case, we get into a good position, we want to drive the advantage home, and fortunately we do that. And at least it gives you the impetus the next time around, you know, how did you do it? And it’s something that you can put in your pocket to remember for the next time. So these sort of experiences are great for us because at least it gives you the confidence that, yes, you can do it, and you can get over the line, especially when you get into those positions.”
Since it was Zimbabwe’s eleventh Test match in 2025, they were already feeling good going into the one match against Afghanistan. They have only ever engaged in more red-ball cricket in a single year. As his team thrashed Afghanistan for 127 in the opening innings and found a top-order batsman to extend that lead, Ervine was able to observe the progress they had made, gradually and gradually, through series against higher-ranked teams like Bangladesh, England, South Africa, and New Zealand. Richard Ngarava blew Afghanistan away after Curran produced his first Test century to give the team a 232-run lead.
“I think guys have taken a lot from their experiences against England, South Africa, New Zealand,” he said. “And I think what guys learnt, especially from the series against New Zealand is, it was testing conditions and they got five bowlers that are going to test you all the time.
“And I think going into this game [against Afghanistan], I think we felt that you get through that new ball phase and if you’re patient enough, I think the runs do ease up. We felt that with their spin, they weren’t as accurate, so it took a little bit of pressure off and it allowed the scoreboard to keep moving. So I think that guys were a lot more composed, guys were a lot more patient. I think that only stems from the experience that you have against better sides [than Zimbabwe are]. You have to work a lot harder against the better teams. And I thought the application that guys showed in this test. I think is fruit from the test that you played against the better nations.”