Glenn Phillips is injured and Bracewell takes his position for Zimbabwe's maiden Test match.

Bracewell is currently in Zimbabwe as a member of the T20I team, but he was initially unable to play in the two-Test series because of his obligations with the Southern Brave in The Hundred. He was an obvious choice to cover Phillips’s void, according to Rob Walter, the head coach of New Zealand. According to Walter, Michael is the closest like-for-like substitute for Glenn, whose injury created a void in the Test squad. We will be able to maintain the same squad balance thanks to Michael’s experience and skill set. We’re taking advantage of the fact that he’s here with the T20 team and that his availability coincides with the first Test. We’ll decide whether to replace him for the second test when we pass the first one. In order to participate in The Hundred, Bracewell will return to the Southern Brave following the first Test.