Test cricket witnessed a rare occurrence as 27-year-old Johnathan Campbell was unexpectedly handed the Zimbabwe captaincy for the one-off Test against Ireland in Bulawayo, starting February 6. Making his Test debut, Campbell took charge after regular skipper Craig Ervine withdrew due to a family emergency.
Zimbabwe Cricket confirmed the leadership change on their X handle, stating:
“Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine has withdrawn from the one-off Test against Ireland due to a family emergency. Johnathan Campbell, making his Test debut, will lead the side. A proven leader at the domestic level, Campbell brings exciting energy and has been in brilliant form.”
Zimbabwe, aiming for their first Test win since 2020/21 and their first home Test victory since 2013, face a tough challenge under Campbell’s leadership. Their last encounter with Ireland saw the hosts claim a four-wicket victory. In the ongoing Test, Ireland, after winning the toss and electing to bat, found themselves struggling at 110/6, while the cricketing world took note of the rare instance of a debutant captaining a Test side.
On that note, here are five interesting facts about Zimbabwe’s new Test captain:
1. Son of Former Zimbabwe Captain Alistair Campbell
Johnathan Campbell comes from a strong cricketing lineage as the son of Alistair Campbell, who captained Zimbabwe in the late 1990s and played a crucial role in their rise in international cricket.
2. One of the Rarest Test Debut Captains
Campbell became only the second player this century to lead a side on Test debut (excluding a team’s maiden Test). The last to do so was South Africa’s Neil Brand in 2023 against New Zealand. Overall, he is just the third debut captain in the last 50 years, alongside Brand and New Zealand’s Lee Germon (1995).
3. Second Zimbabwean to Captain on Test Debut
Campbell follows in the footsteps of David Houghton, who captained Zimbabwe in their inaugural Test match against India in 1992. Houghton led Zimbabwe to a historic draw and scored a brilliant century in that match.
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4. Impressive Debut for Zimbabwe in T20I Cricket
Campbell first made his international debut in a T20I against Bangladesh in 2023. Coming in at 42/5, he played a stunning 24-ball 45, smashing four boundaries and three sixes to help Zimbabwe post a competitive total. However, Bangladesh chased down the target with six wickets in hand.
5. A Proven All-Rounder in Domestic Cricket
Campbell has established himself in Zimbabwe’s domestic circuit with nearly 2,000 first-class runs at an average of 32, along with four centuries. In List-A cricket, he has scored almost 1,400 runs at an impressive average of 39.20. Additionally, his leg-spin has proven valuable, with 72 wickets across formats, including a five-wicket haul in List-A cricket.
With history on his side and a bright future ahead, all eyes will be on Campbell as he leads Zimbabwe in this high-stakes Test match against Ireland.
