Tri-series fights for spotlight at Zimbabwe face South Africa

It's not difficult to see why tri-series are a rarity in the modern game. They don't come freighted with the potential for drama inherent in a bilateral rubber, with its narrative of match-ups and the shadow of what happened in the last game. They also don't have the allure of the unknown that is the magic of a World Cup - they beat this side, but what might they do against that side?

A tri-series has neither of those attractions. It is betwixt and between them, and therefore it can struggle for its share of the headlines. Especially if no-one has punched the lights out. The Zimbabwe-South Africa-New Zealand T20 jamboree in Harare is a prime example.

In the three matches played so far we've seen half-centuries by Tim Robinson, Devon Conway and Sikandar Raza. George Linde, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry - twice - and Richard Ngarava have taken three wickets in an innings.

But there has yet to be a shimmering performance that demands attention. A blazing century would do it, as would a five-wicket raid, or even an outrageous catch or runout.

Until one of the above happens, world cricket's gaze will remain elsewhere and the tri-series will stay in its out-of-sight, out-of-mind limbo. It could be sponsored by a company called meh.

Sunday's game between the hosts and South Africa would do well to get the tournament's head above the parapet, what with 25 other significant matches of various types and levels set to be played around the world on the same day.

A fully-fledged international involving teams from Test-playing countries might expect to be given pride of place. But not in a landscape as cluttered as cricket's has become. Instead, the MAX60 Caribbean fixture between Boca Raton Trailblazers and Florida Lions could easily win more eyeballs. That game should, after all, feature David Warner and Joe Burns.

Interest in events in Harare on Sunday might be the sole preserve of cricketminded locals and their southern neighbours. Considering matches in the tri-series start at 11pm New Zealand time, fans there might well decide to read about the game the next day rather than watch it live. Particularly if the Kiwis aren't playing.

So the tournament is more of a laboratory for players and coaches to wonder what if, to try fringe players, to thrust one strange idea against another, than it is an attraction for those who simply want to watch a game of cricket.

And that's fine. Not everything can be a spectacle worthy of dropping whatever it is you're doing to stare at a screen unblinkingly. There's too much else to do in the world, including watch Warner and Burns. Tune in to a tri-series, any tri-series? Why?

When: July 20, 2025; 1pm Local Time (11am GMT, 4.30pm IST)

Where: Harare Sports Club

What to expect: Three matches in, a first innings score of more than 170 has been seen only once. But, of the 34 bowling performances, just three economy rates have been below four. Translation: this pitch likes neither batters nor bowlers.

Team news:

Zimbabwe:

Four of Zimbabwe's squad of 16 have watched both of their team's games from the dugout, and they might do so again.

Possible XI: Brian Bennett, Wessly Madhevere, Clive Madande, Sikandar Raza (capt), Ryan Burl, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Tinotenda Maposa, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Trevor Gwandu.

South Africa:

After two matches, everyone in the squad has had a game. The XI who lost to New Zealand deserves another look, if only for the purposes of comparison.

Possible XI: Reeza Hendricks, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Rubin Hermann, Senuran Muthusamy, Rassie van der Dussen (capt), Dewald Brevis, George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Gerald Coetzee, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi.

What they said:

"Maybe it's boiled over from winning the WTC final. It's almost like, because we won that match when it counted, you can experiment more. It's Shukri's [Conrad] first time in charge of a [South Africa] white-ball side but the mindset is different. We're not trying things for the sake of trying them, or choosing guys for the sake of choosing them. It's trying things with the understanding of it's okay if you get it wrong, but you can only get to the other side if you try it properly and authentically." - Rassie van der Dussen on the afterglow of claiming the ICC mace.