London, May 20, 2025 – England have officially named their playing XI for the highly anticipated four-day Test match against Zimbabwe, set to begin on Thursday, May 22, at Trent Bridge.
This match marks the start of England’s home summer and also holds historical significance, as it is the first time Zimbabwe will face England in a Test since 2003.
Making headlines is the debut of Essex seamer Sam Cook, who has been handed his maiden Test cap. Cook’s inclusion adds fresh energy to England’s pace attack as he replaces Matthew Potts in the lineup. With seasoned pacer James Anderson now retired and Stuart Broad also unavailable, this will be the first home Test for England without either of their legendary fast bowlers.
England’s top order remains unchanged from their previous series against New Zealand, with Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, and Harry Brook forming a strong batting core. Captain Ben Stokes, fully recovered from a hamstring injury, returns to lead the side, bringing leadership and experience to the field.
Young wicketkeeper Jamie Smith takes on the gloves, while Shoaib Bashir adds a spin option to the bowling unit. Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue, who impressed on debut with a five-wicket haul against Ireland, round out the pace battery alongside debutant Cook.
Zimbabwe, often referred to as the Chevrons, come into the match as underdogs, but England head coach Brendon McCullum has cautioned against complacency. He emphasized the importance of decision-making under pressure and respecting Zimbabwe’s potential to challenge England.
This Test not only renews a long-dormant rivalry but also offers Zimbabwe a rare opportunity to test themselves against a top-tier side. McCullum, whose coaching tenure has revitalized England’s red-ball cricket, is confident but focused on executing the team’s aggressive and fearless style of play.
England Playing XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Gus Atkinson, Sam Cook, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir.
With a packed Test calendar ahead, including series against India and Australia, England aim to begin their summer with a convincing performance against Zimbabwe.