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Zimbabwe tour of England (2025)

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Ball Blazer

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The England Men’s selection panel has named a 13-player squad for the upcoming Rothesay Test match against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge, which begins on Thursday, 22 May 2025.

This historic fixture marks Zimbabwe’s first Test on English soil since 2003 and is set to launch England’s international summer.

England Men's Test Squad:

  • Ben Stokes (Durham) - Captain
  • Gus Atkinson (Surrey)
  • Shoaib Bashir (Somerset)
  • Harry Brook (Yorkshire)
  • Sam Cook (Essex)
  • Jordan Cox (Essex)
  • Zak Crawley (Kent)
  • Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire)
  • Ollie Pope (Surrey)
  • Matthew Potts (Durham)
  • Joe Root (Yorkshire)
  • Jamie Smith (Surrey)
  • Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire)

The squad includes two uncapped players at Test level - Essex duo Sam Cook and Jordan Cox.

Cook, 27, has been one of the most consistent bowlers in County cricket in recent years. He boasts 318 first-class wickets at an average of 19.77 and impressed on the England Lions tour of Australia over the winter, taking 13 wickets across three matches.

Nottinghamshire seamer Josh Tongue earns a recall to the Test squad, having last featured during the Ashes in 2023. After overcoming a series of injuries, he has been in impressive form this season with 15 wickets at an average of 24 in the Championship.

Source: https://www.mynewsdesk.com/uk/engla...gland-mens-test-match-versus-zimbabwe-3383928
 
Last time Zimbabwe played a Test in England, James Anderson made his debut.

It has been a long time.
 
They invited even Zimbabwe but still haven't invited Bangladesh in 15 years. :inti
 

Star all-rounder returns as Zimbabwe confirm squad for historic England Test​


Zimbabwe have named a 15-member squad for the one-off Test against England later this month.​


The Chevrons will face England in a historic Test at Trent Bridge later this month. The match, beginning on 22 May, marks Zimbabwe’s first Test on English soil since 2003.

The announcement follows a fiercely-contest Test series against Bangladesh, wherein the African side took the first Test before the Tigers fought back to tie the series.

For their game against England, Zimbabwe have introduced three changes to the squad that toured Bangladesh.

Star all-rounder Sikandar Raza returns, replacing Johnathan Campbell. Also making a return is Clive Madande, having recovered from an injury setback to take over the backup wicketkeeper role from Nyasha Mayavo.

A notable absentee will be leg-spinner Vincent Masekesa, who snapped a five-wicket haul in his debut Test against Bangladesh. Masekesa will miss out as Zimbabwe have opted for an extra pace option for England, bringing Newman Nyamhuri into the squad.

Expressing firm confidence in the squad, Zimbabwe Head Coach Justin Sammons said, “In terms of performance, I expect us to play to a standard that can compete with one of the best teams in the world.

“I really want to see the guys walking out there believing that they belong, embracing and enjoying the moment.”

ZIMBABWE TEST SQUAD FOR ENGLAND TOUR:

Craig Ervine (c), Brian Bennett, Ben Curran, Trevor Gwandu, Clive Madande, Wessly Madhevere, Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Newman Nyamhuri, Victor Nyauchi, Sikandar Raza, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Nicholas Welch, Sean Williams

Following the Test against England, Zimbabwe will face South Africa in a four-day match at Arundel starting June 3. The game will serve as preparation for the Proteas ahead of their ICC World Test Championship final against Australia beginning June 11.

Source: ICC
 
Great gesture from England to give Zimbabwe an opportunity.

Teams like Zimbabwe need to play more games (against top sides) to get better.
 
It would have been cool if England had selected Sam Curran or Tom Curran. We would have had brother v brother in a test match.
 
DeadlyVenom said:
It would have been cool if England had selected Sam Curran or Tom Curran. We would have had brother v brother in a test match.
Click to expand...

Yup. I was thinking the same.

Anyway, Curran brothers (Sam and Tom) mostly play LOIs I believe.
 
James Rew Called Up to England Men’s Test Squad

Somerset batter James Rew has been drafted into the England Men’s Test squad ahead of the forthcoming Rothesay Test match against Zimbabwe, which gets underway at Trent Bridge on 22 May.

Rew replaces Essex’s Jordan Cox, who has been ruled out after sustaining an abdominal muscle injury while batting against Somerset in the latest round of the Rothesay County Championship.

This is the first senior England call-up for the 21-year-old, who has been in outstanding form for Somerset in this year’s County Championship. Rew is currently averaging 54.21 with the bat, including a highest score of 152.

A product of the England Lions pathway, Rew toured Australia with the Lions last winter and was a key figure in the Young Lions side that reached the ICC U19 World Cup final in 2022, alongside current internationals Rehan Ahmed and Jacob Bethell.

Rew will link up with the Test squad at their pre-series training camp next week as preparations begin for the start of the international summer.

England Men's Test Squad:

Ben Stokes (Durham) – Captain
Gus Atkinson (Surrey)
Shoaib Bashir (Somerset)
Harry Brook (Yorkshire)
Sam Cook (Essex)
Zak Crawley (Kent)
Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire)
Ollie Pope (Surrey)
Matthew Potts (Durham)
James Rew (Somerset)
Joe Root (Yorkshire)
Jamie Smith (Surrey)
Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire)

Rothesay Test match: England v Zimbabwe, 22-25 May 2025 (four-day), Trent Bridge, Nottingham
 
Looking forward to some test cricket after all the T20 junk. Eventhough I know its probably going to be a very one-sided match.

Hopefully the Zimbos can put up a fight! They definitely have some good players.
 

Chivanga replaces injured Gwandu in Zimbabwe Test squad​


Zimbabwe have drafted fast bowler Tanaka Chivanga into their squad for next week’s historic Test against England, following the injury-forced withdrawal of Trevor Gwandu.

Gwandu has been ruled out after suffering a left groin strain during a training session on the current tour, sidelining him from what will be a landmark occasion for Zimbabwean cricket.

The 31-year-old Chivanga, who made his Test debut against the West Indies in February 2023, returns to the national setup after recovering from an injury sustained during his second and most recent Test, played against Ireland in Belfast last year.

His return provides a timely boost to Zimbabwe’s pace bowling options ahead of the much-anticipated fixture.

Zimbabwe are set to face England in a one-off Test match scheduled for 22 to 25 May 2025 at Trent Bridge in Nottingham.

The match marks Zimbabwe’s first Test appearance on English soil in over two decades, with the last having taken place in 2003.

Source: https://www.zimcricket.org/news/3934/Chivanga-replaces-injured-Gwandu-in-Zimbabwe-Test-squad
 
Essex bowler Sam Cook will make his England debut in this week's Test against Zimbabwe, coach Brendon McCullum has confirmed

The 27-year-old, who has been prolific in recent seasons in county cricket, will form an inexperienced bowling attack with Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue and spinner Shoaib Bashir.

Durham bowler Matthew Potts and Somerset batter James Rew are the two players from the 13-strong squad to have been left out.

Zak Crawley has been retained as opener as expected while Ollie Pope returns to number three from the middle order with Jamie Smith back as wicketkeeper after paternity leave.

The match, a four-day Test and Zimbabwe's first in England since 2003, begins at Trent Bridge on Thursday.

England team: Crawley, Duckett, Pope, Root, Brook, Stokes (capt), Smith (wk), Atkinson, Tongue, Cook, Bashir.

England have often favoured pace or variation in height or angle in recent selections but Cook is a more traditional, skilful seam bowler - his debut a reward for his superb County Championship record.

Cook's 227 County Championship wickets were the most by any seamer in the past five years while his overall haul of 321 first-class wickets have come at an average of only 19.85.

But the pace trio of Cook, Tongue and Atkinson contains only 13 Test caps, making it England's most inexperienced pace attack for 22 years.

This will be only the second home Test England have begun without any of Chris Woakes, James Anderson or Stuart Broad - the latter two have now retired - in the past 18 years.

Woakes and Mark Wood, England's two most experienced pace bowlers, are currently injured.

Nottinghamshire's Tongue will offer captain Ben Stokes a faster bowling option and returns for his first Test since the 2023 Ashes.

Hamstring and pectoral injuries prevented him from adding to the two appearances he made that summer, in which he took 10 wickets.

The Zimbabwe Test begins a defining run for England's red-ball side with a five-match series against India to follow from 20 June and the Ashes in Australia this winter.

BBC
 
Come on Zimbabwe, don't let England have it all their way. Win a session or two, make them sweat and do yourselves proud even if you lose.
 

England vs Zimbabwe, Only Test at Nottingham:​


Zimbabwe won the toss and chose to bowl first

England: 1 Zak Crawley, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Ollie Pope, 4 Joe Root, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Jamie Smith (wk), 7 Ben Stokes (capt), 8 Gus Atkinson, 9 Sam Cook, 10 Josh Tongue, 11 Shoaib Bashir

Zimbabwe: 1 Ben Curran, 2 Brian Bennett, 3 Craig Ervine (capt), 4 Sean Williams, 5 Sikandar Raza, 6 Wessly Madhevere, 7 Tafadzwa Tsiga (wk), 8 Richard Ngarava, 9 Blessing Muzarabani, 10 Tanaka Chivanga, 11 Victor Nyauchi
 
8mm of grass on the pitch and looks gloomy.

Mercifully ZIM won the toss and chose to bowl.
 
Ngarava has found 1.8 degrees of swing compare to Blessing's 0.4.

But that swing is useless against left handers like Duckett.

Ngarava averages 144 vs LHB in Test cricket.
 
𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟭 - Session 1: Lunch

A wicket-less session for Zimbabwe, England are 130/0 after 26 overs

(Ben Duckett 75*, Zak Crawley 53*)
 
I'm glad England finally invited Zimbabwe for a test match. But was organizing it on the flattest pitch in the country really the wisest decision?
 
RedwoodOriginal said:
I'm glad England finally invited Zimbabwe for a test match. But was organizing it on the flattest pitch in the country really the wisest decision?
Click to expand...
Trent Bridge is brutal sometimes for bowling teams with that short boundary on one side.

Zimbabwe lost to a County Select XI before this game so that was a bad omen.

Their saving grace is the possibility of rain on the weekend.
 
Markhor said:
Trent Bridge is brutal sometimes for bowling teams with that short boundary on one side.

Zimbabwe lost to a County Select XI before this game so that was a bad omen.

Their saving grace is the possibility of rain on the weekend.
Click to expand...
Just think they could have scheduled this match at a venue that maybe offered a bit more seam movement for Zimbabwe's bowlers. This feels like a bit of a farce. Zimbabwe already struggle to get much test cricket, they come to England after seemingly decades and its on this flat Trent Bridge road. The result will likely give the proponents of Big 3 cricket another thing to point towards when justifying smaller teams not playing enough.
 
Zimbabwe should’ve batted first to make a match out of it. Will be following on now with big innings defeat.
 
Almost 6 an over from England. They are not stopping at anything less...LOL
 
England can now do the needful to regain the record of scoring highest aggregate of runs in an innings. Currently Sri Lanka is holding this record. England can go for being the first team to make more than thousand runs in an innings.
 
England asserted dominant control on Day 2 of the Only Test against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge, declaring their first innings at a mammoth 565/6d. Top-order fireworks led the charge, with Ollie Pope notching 171 off 166 balls, while Zak Crawley (124) and Ben Duckett (140) laid a commanding platform.

Harry Brook’s quickfire 58 and Joe Root’s 34 added to the onslaught, as England scored at nearly six runs per over. Blessing Muzarabani was the pick of Zimbabwe’s bowlers, claiming 3 wickets for 143 runs.

It remains to be seen how Zimbabwe will respond to the trail.
 
Brian Bennett was batting so well but then the black sheep of the Curran family decided to give his wicket away
 

'A proud and defining moment' for Zimbabwe cricket​


Did you know?

- Zimbabwe’s Test vs England at Trent Bridge is their first in England since 2003 and a "defining moment," according to ZC chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani.

- The Test marks Zimbabwe’s return to red-ball cricket on the global stage, followed by a four-day match against South Africa in Arundel from June 3–6.

- Since 2011, Zimbabwe have played just 40 Tests, but 11 Test matches are scheduled for them in 2025, indicating a busier and more competitive red-ball calendar ahead.
 
Ball Blazer said:
- Since 2011, Zimbabwe have played just 40 Tests, but 11 Test matches are scheduled for them in 2025, indicating a busier and more competitive red-ball calendar ahead.
Click to expand...

This is great for Zimbabwe. They need to play more games.
 
Devadwal said:
If pitches are going to be similar than indian batsman will love batting against this England bowling attacks @Nikhil_cric . :kp
Click to expand...
You want games going past day 3. Peaks interest in the game. That is how the fans stay with test matches. The broadcasters make their money.

Especially in a marquee series like Eng-Ind. I hope all matches go the full distance. Pitches need to be made to get it into 4th and 5th days.
 
U$ofA said:
You want games going past day 3. Peaks interest in the game. That is how the fans stay with test matches. The broadcasters make their money.

Especially in a marquee series like Eng-Ind. I hope all matches go the full distance. Pitches need to be made to get it into 4th and 5th days.
Click to expand...
I don't want flat pitch but spicy pitch for England - India series. :kp
 
U$ofA said:
You want games going past day 3. Peaks interest in the game. That is how the fans stay with test matches. The broadcasters make their money.
Click to expand...

Not everything has to revolve around money. Cricket has been polluted by Indian overcommercialization and greed. :inti

At the end of the day, it is all about quality.
 
sweep_shot said:
Not everything has to revolve around money. Cricket has been polluted by Indian overcommercialization and greed. :inti

At the end of the day, it is all about quality.
Click to expand...
Do you know its England home series so they will decide the pitch not india.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Small contingent of Zimbabwe fans making themselves heard which is nice to see. Avoiding the follow-on would be something at least.

Pitches so far in the County season have been generally flat and slow, and this seems no different. ECB need to get some more life into the surfaces.
 
*Correcting above - avoiding an innings defeat rather.

Still 59 behind. Hopefully Sikander Raza can get his hundred.
 
Blessing Muzarabani becomes the 5th Zimbabwean to take 200 international wickets.

453: Heath Streak (286 inngs)
213: Sikandar Raza (239 inngs)
211: Graeme Cremer (150 inngs)
206: Tendai Chatara (165 inngs)
201: Blessing Muzarabani (140 inngs)*
 
Sikandar Raza notches up his 10th Test fifty. Currently playing at 60 off 68
 
England dominated the one-off Test against Zimbabwe at Nottingham, winning by an innings and 45 runs after posting a massive 565/6 declared. Shoaib Bashir was named Player of the Match for his outstanding bowling figures of 3/62 and 6/81.
 
Zimbabwe played well. If they can get a couple of good batsmen like they got Bennet, they can defeat Bangladesh.
 
As test cricket keeps crumbling, am more and more in support of 2 tier test or get rid of it all together. Am suprised that ODI is dying before test tbh. Thought this one would have gone to the trash before ODI considering people's attention span is a tiktok video these days.
 
zimbabwe did better job in 2nd inning but yeah, it was never their game to win...
 
Zimbabwe lost badly (innings defeat) but it was a good exposure for them.

Bennett was superb.
 
light said:
As test cricket keeps crumbling, am more and more in support of 2 tier test or get rid of it all together. Am suprised that ODI is dying before test tbh. Thought this one would have gone to the trash before ODI considering people's attention span is a tiktok video these days.
Click to expand...

ODIs aren't dying faster than Tests. Not organically anyway, outside of England and maybe Australia. Test cricket is promoted as the premium event of the summer and gets Boxing Day, New Year's etc. and is also massively subsidised by white ball cricket.

ODI crowds are bigger than Tests, despite the step motherly treatment , in the Caribbean , Sri Lanka, South Africa, Pakistan , Bangladesh etc.
 
This was a brutal one sided thrashing. No way were Zimbabwe even close to to competing despite coming up against non regulars like Tongue and Cook.
 
Nikhil_cric said:
ODIs aren't dying faster than Tests. Not organically anyway, outside of England and maybe Australia. Test cricket is promoted as the premium event of the summer and gets Boxing Day, New Year's etc. and is also massively subsidised by white ball cricket.

ODI crowds are bigger than Tests, despite the step motherly treatment , in the Caribbean , Sri Lanka, South Africa, Pakistan , Bangladesh etc.
Click to expand...
Honestly, the one true world cup is the ODI format WC. T20 WC is meh - but i suspect that the future generation will consider this as the main wc. Test WC is a joke - they are trying to hard to keep the format alive so hard and give it some relevance.
 
light said:
Honestly, the one true world cup is the ODI format WC. T20 WC is meh - but i suspect that the future generation will consider this as the main wc. Test WC is a joke - they are trying to hard to keep the format alive so hard and give it some relevance.
Click to expand...

World T20 cannot be taken seriously unless it's at the end of a 4 year cycle like a proper World Cup.
 
light said:
Honestly, the one true world cup is the ODI format WC. T20 WC is meh - but i suspect that the future generation will consider this as the main wc. Test WC is a joke - they are trying to hard to keep the format alive so hard and give it some relevance.
Click to expand...

Agree.

ODI WC has been there since 1975. It is the ultimate World Cup. Everything else came later and are simply gimmicks.

ODI WC is like Bitcoin while other ICC events are like Shiba Inu. :inti
 
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