ICC 2024-25: Upcoming Test Match Fixtures & Predictions

The upcoming ICC fixtures go beyond our expectations for a Test match. We have the New Zealand tour of Zimbabwe, India vs England 5th Test, and West Indies vs Pakistan T20. To be particular, Indian fans are put under unending suspense until the next match. India is still in a dangerous position and should secure an apparent victory. Pakistan will ignite the rivalry with the multi-national team, the West Indies, to rekindle the World Cup passion they had. Finally, we have the New Zealand vs Zimbabwe match, where these two underdogs clash and decide who’s big. These fixtures are deeply rooted among every cricket fan. All these matches are poised to provide extreme drama and peak entertainment. So, we won’t have a single moment of boredom or flatness. Get ready to enjoy all the ICC matches and get our up-to-date ICC updates and news.

Previous Matches Recap

India took on England in their latest ICC Test encounter. India’s underwhelming performance in the first innings lowered the confidence. India’s batters went all out for just 358 without a single century. In contrast, England’s collective scores averaged 57. Ben Duckett, Joe Root, and Ben Stokes were unstoppable with their phenomenal scores. Their first innings aggregated an impressive 669 runs. Intimidated India, remained calm and sustained the batting potential by scoring less frequently. Gill, Sundar, Rahul, and Jadeja gave a comeback that earned higher total runs until the timeout. Subsequently, the match was drawn, giving India a fifth and final chance to win. Recently, Pakistan conquered the final ICC T20 Test against Bangladesh. Even though the game was a close contest in the initial overs, Pakistan tightened the bowling. They bowled out Bangladesh for a total of 104 runs. To get more cricket news and exciting updates, follow Bettingpremier.

Upcoming ICC Fixtures and Predictions

ICC fans can look forward to intense rivalries in the upcoming high-stakes clashes. To keep up with the latest sports news and predictions, follow Bettingpremier.

The India vs England 5th Test match will take place from 31 July 2025 to 4 August 2025. It will be held at The Oval Cricket Ground, Kennington, at 03:30 p.m. IST | 06:00 a.m. ET.

The opening T20 between Pakistan and the West Indies is set for 01 August 2025. Enjoy this Test match at the Central Broward Regional Park beginning at 05:30 a.m. IST | 08:00 p.m. ET (Previous Day). Catch the West Indies vs Pakistan T20 live!

The 1st T20 match of the ICC New Zealand vs Zimbabwe is scheduled from 30 July to 03 August, 2025. It is expected to occur at the Queens Sports Club at 01:30 p.m. IST | 04:00 a.m. ET.

advertisement

India vs England – The Five-Match Feud

India and England have been in a long-term rivalry for decades. In ICC 2025, the Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy re-ignited the feud and expanded to a bilateral five-Test series. The first and third matches were already captured by England, leaving the second match for India. The last match was a draw, forcing India to secure a victory to sustain the trophy.

This time, both teams enter the final match furiously, making the game more gripping. The tournament’s importance lies in the Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy. The bilateral trophy indicates the head-to-head rivalry in other major tournaments, giving the winner a psychological edge.

Current Form and Squad

India’s current form needs to regain its momentum in the upcoming ICC Test matches. Their performance in the second match was spot on. The squad needs to be even in run accumulation in both innings. The current roster includes all good hitters: Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, and KL Rahul. Additionally, the team could benefit more if Sai Sudharshan and Yashasvi Jaiswal picked up with their offense.

On the other hand, England has a powerhouse lineup. Top batters like Ben Duckett, Ben Stokes, Joe Root, and Zak Crawley carry the team’s offense. Their collective stats outperform India’s current lineup. However, their bowling is not as deep as India’s bowling. Apart from the power-hitters, England has reliable batters in the finishing order as well.

Key Players to Watch For

Shubman Gill is a young rising star who is consistent in his batting and acquires high runs quickly. He has been considered a consistent top-order batsman across all formats. Kuldeep Jadav is a crucial bowler who took numerous wickets in ODIs. He shines at the right moments, dismantling the opponent’s batting potential.

Harry Brook from England is identified as one of the destructive openers who could score early. His aptitude for explosive batting is an outstanding feature. Duckett, Root, and Stokes remain England’s backbone in batting. Collectively, the top order of England will offer more hits and runs in the upcoming ICC matches.

Pitch Report and Playing Conditions

The Oval Cricket Stadium’s pitch is primarily batting-friendly. It is typically rigid and offers bounce for batters. However, it deteriorates and will favor bowlers as the match goes on. In the later stages of the Test match, it supports spinners and swing bowling.

For ICC ODIs, the pitch offers equal opportunities on both sides. It provides early swings and puts batters in favorable situations in the middle order. Teams that bat first have a slight advantage on that pitch, as it is suitable for early batting. It allows the bat-first team to score a higher target and use the deteriorated pitch to its advantage in the second innings.

Prediction

The fifth and final Test match will be a tight and unpredictable contest between India and England. As the previous match ended in a draw, it signified India’s tactical brilliance. However, in the upcoming ICC match, India still lacks a proper batting lineup besides a few batsmen. However, India has a strong defense with diverse bowlers on its list. Bowlers like Siraj, Shami, and Bumrah might take some crucial wickets.

On the other hand, England boasts an excellent batting order that is consistent throughout the innings. Although their defense is average, their run-aggression factors compensate for the deficit. Given India’s previous matches and current batting order, England is favored to win in this ICC fixture.

Pakistan vs West Indies – The Giants Clash

Pakistan and the West Indies are big names in the major cricket leagues. They both have excellent reputations in Test matches and one-day internationals. Across all formats, Pakistan had a slight edge in overall wins, even though the difference is minor.

Whenever it comes to T20, Pakistan has always had the upper hand. Pakistan vs West Indies is one of the few unpredictable rivalries that will keep you in suspense. This enduring rivalry shows the importance of legendary players and moments of brilliance from both sides. More often, their clashes have always been a crowd-pleasing event.

Current Squad and Team Dynamics

Pakistan has been showing mixed results in recent matches. However, they have a strong batting lineup that includes Fakhar Zaman and youngsters like Saim Ayub. All-rounders Faheem Ashraf, Hussain Talat, and Mohammad Nawaz add crucial balance to the team. The current squad blends youth and experience, potentially preparing for future tournaments.

The West Indies is a team known for its solid batting lineup, which includes powerful hitters and lethal finishers. Their key strengths include their T20 prowess, which consists of a strong middle order with explosive innings. However, their weakness is the lack of diverse bowling options. West Indies is currently equipped with decent batting and average bowling for the upcoming ICC fixture.

Significant Players

Shaheen Shah Afridi returns to the Pakistan squad for the West Indies T20 series. Afridi is a star bowler who takes early wickets and bowls effectively at death bowling. Babar Azam is another key player with an outstanding run generation in the longer innings. Finally, Fakhar Zaman comes with his aggressive batting style, strengthening the team’s offense.

Shimron Hetmyer from the West Indies is a wicketkeeper and batsman who could be a game-changer under pressure. Additionally, Romario Shepherd is an all-rounder who can make crucial contributions in the finishing overs. Alzarri Joseph is a fast bowler capable of pace and early wicket-taking skills.

Pitch Conditions and Tactical Gameplan

Central Broward Regional Park generally offers a batting-friendly pitch at the start of the innings. As the match progresses, the pitch slows down and loses its pace. It allows the bowlers to utilize spin and seam bowling. The slowing nature of the pitch makes it difficult for the batters to hit aggressive shots in the later innings. Traditionally, the first innings yield around 165 to 170 runs on average. Winning the toss and choosing to bat first is favorable, as teams can capitalize on the early favorable conditions. The weather is said to be mildly cloudy as of now. Bowlers often gain the upper hand in the second innings if rain stays away.

Prediction

Recently, the West Indies suffered inconsistent batting against Australia, ending in a 5-0 defeat. However, the team has determined to re-group with an optimistic approach to regain confidence. In head-to-head battles, Pakistan leads the West Indies with more wins.

While both teams have a mix of experienced and young players, Pakistan has a diverse range of bowlers. The fiery Shaheen Afridi spearheads their pace unit. With a better batting consistency and strong bowling efficiency, Pakistan has a clearer chance of winning. West Indies may bat deep, but Pakistan’s bowling variety gives them the ICC match advantage.

New Zealand vs Zimbabwe – The Iconic ICC Rivalry

New Zealand and Zimbabwe will face each other in the upcoming bilateral Test series. New Zealand won the last T20I meeting between these teams. This clash will be another memorable addition to the New Zealand vs Zimbabwe clash.

Across all formats—especially Tests and T20Is—New Zealand has consistently overpowered Zimbabwe. At home, Zimbabwe had upset New Zealand with surprising wins. In the recent T20 tri-series, New Zealand stayed unbeaten against Zimbabwe, proving their strength.

Recent Form and Squad Depth

Experienced campaigners like Craig Ervine, Sean Williams, and Sikandar Raza are key players in Zimbabwe. The squad represents a good lineup with depth. Additionally, Ben Curran, Nick Welch, and Tanunurwa Makoni have been added. The pace attack features Blessing Muzarabani and Newman Nyamhuri. They also have a spinner, Vincent Masekesa, adding options to the bowling.

New Zealand possesses a robust batting lineup with veterans like Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, and Will Young. Devon Conway and Tom Latham handle the wicketkeeping behind the line. Daryl Mitchell, Michael Bracewell, Rachin Ravindra, and Mitchell Santner offer a mix of batting and bowling skills. In short, the New Zealand team is well balanced on both offense and defense.

Impact Players to Watch

Sikandar Raza is an important player to watch. He is a key all-rounder known for his powerful batting. Richard Nagarava is a reliable left-arm pace bowler who can provide early breakthroughs. Finally, Wesley Madhevere enters the roster as an all-rounder who contributes with both batting and bowling.

New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra is a talented left-handed batsman and left-arm orthodox spinner. He aims to make an impact in both disciplines. Jacob Duffy is a right-arm medium-fast bowler who has been impressive lately. Devon Conway opens the innings with his tactical expertness. 

Pitch Behavior and Strategic Approaches

The Queens Sports Club pitch generally offers a balanced contest for both batting and bowling. In the early innings, it favors seam bowling and swings. However, as the pitch dries out, it becomes more favorable for batters.

Spinners might get some turn in the middle overs, but batting conditions improve significantly in the afternoon sessions. Fast bowling can be effective in the later innings by utilizing cutters and hard hitting as the ball wears down. Usually, the ground provides support to the batting-second team in ICC Test matches.

Prediction

New Zealand’s winning ratio in the previous head-to-head match against Zimbabwe was higher. This includes two recent wins in the tri-series in July 2025. Additionally, New Zealand has a strong recent form against Zimbabwe, staying undefeated throughout the tournament.

New Zealand boasts standout performers; Tim Seifert leads in runs, while Matt Henry tops the wicket charts. Moreover, New Zealand exhibits a more substantial squad depth and more experience than Zimbabwe. Therefore, New Zealand will again dominate Zimbabwe in this ICC fixture.