Cremer Returns After Nine Years as Zimbabwe Make Steady Start in Sharjah Test Opener

Test cricket returned to Sharjah after a decade, and Zimbabwe marked the occasion with a steady start on the opening morning of the first Test against Afghanistan. Zimbabwe captain Brian Bennett won the toss and chose to bat, and his openers gave the visitors a solid platform. Ben Curran and Innocent Kaia put on 60 for the first wicket before Kaia fell for 34, caught by Rahmanullah Zadran off Qais Ahmad. Curran carried on unbeaten on 39 at lunch, with Brendan Taylor alongside him on 25, as Zimbabwe reached 104 for 1 after 28 overs. The day belonged in part to Graeme Cremer. The 40-year-old leg-spinner was named in Zimbabwe's side for his first Test since December 2017, a return after nearly nine years away from the format. Antum Naqvi, 27, also made his long-awaited Test debut, while Afghanistan handed a debut to middle-order batter Rahmanullah. Afghanistan captain Rahmat Shah said he would have batted first too, but had no complaints about bowling on a pitch expected to wear as the match goes on. The hosts come into the series after a hard-fought draw against Bangladesh in their previous Test outing last month. The first Test runs from November 5 to 9 at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, with the second match at the same venue starting on November 13.