In his first appearance at Trent Bridge, Brian Bennett crafted an impressive innings, scoring 139 from 143 deliveries, amid an atmosphere he described as home-like. Despite only a few hundred Zimbabwean supporters making up the crowd of 13,282, their spirited singing resonated deeply with him.
“I could hear them singing the war cries as we always hear at Harare Sports Club, so it gave me a little goosebumps,” Bennett remarked. “The reception I got from the crowd was unbelievable.”
For the fans, Bennett’s performance was a rare highlight in an otherwise challenging two days against England. It raised hopes that better times may be on the horizon for Zimbabwean cricket. The team has had few bright moments since returning to England after a 22-year hiatus. Yet, Bennett’s century, marking his rise as a promising talent at just 21, suggests a positive shift. In recent years, Test centuries have come from older stalwarts like Sean Williams and Craig Ervine, now nearing retirement.
Although Zimbabwe is not part of the World Test Championship, they’ve lined up 11 Tests this year. Bennett appears set to be a key player, showing great potential by recording the fastest century by a Zimbabwean in Test history. His aggressive response to England’s daunting first-innings total of 565 for 6 demonstrated his attacking mindset.
“If it’s in my area, I’m going to try and go for it,” Bennett explained. “It’s in my game plan, not too reckless and today it came off.”
However, as Zimbabwe’s innings reached 156 for 2, the middle order struggled against England’s pacer Ben Stokes’ skillful bowling. It was a new experience for many team members, facing the English Dukes ball for the first time. Bennett acknowledged this challenge: “It’s not something we face but there’s always challenges in cricket. You’re only going to grow when you go out of your comfort zone.”
Bennett also tackled his first encounter with a barrage of short balls in a Test, showcasing his back-foot strengths, as noted by his former school coach, Andrew Birch. His adeptness with the cut shot was evident, earning him a place on the Trent Bridge honours board beside fellow Zimbabwean Murray Goodwin, which he finds “inspiring.” Eventually, Josh Tongue dismissed him with a bouncer, but not before Bennett had left a lasting impression.
