England squad for one-off Test vs Zimbabwe
England have unveiled their squad for the upcoming one-off Test match against Zimbabwe, scheduled to begin on May 22 at Trent Bridge, marking the official start of their 2025 home summer. Let us look at the details of the England squad for the one-off Test vs Zimbabwe.
This historic fixture is Zimbabwe’s first Test on English soil in 22 years, and England will use it as vital preparation ahead of a grueling red-ball calendar featuring series against India and Australia.
Ben Stokes returns to lead the side after recovering from a left hamstring tear, having last played in the Test series against New Zealand as part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship (2023–25). With several frontline pacers ruled out, England’s bowling options have a fresh look.
Injuries to Mark Wood (knee), Chris Woakes (ankle), Brydon Carse (foot), and Olly Stone (knee operation) have forced selectors to dig into the domestic talent pool.
Gus Atkinson, with 11 Test caps to his name, is set to lead the pace attack, supported by Matthew Potts and Josh Tongue, the latter making his first Test squad appearance since the 2023 Ashes.
Notably, two uncapped Essex players have been handed maiden call-ups: Sam Cook and Jordan Cox. Cook, a consistent performer in the County Championship, boasts 318 first-class wickets at an impressive average of 19.77. His recent showing with the England Lions in Australia,13 wickets in three matches, further put a weight on his selection.
Jordan Cox, 24, has lit up the domestic season with the bat, scoring 918 runs in 11 matches, including four centuries and two fifties, making him one of the standout performers in the County Championship this year.
The squad also includes familiar names like Joe Root, Ollie Pope, Harry Brook, and Zak Crawley, as England aim to fine-tune their lineup ahead of the high-stakes five-Test tour of India starting June 20.
England squad for one-off Test against Zimbabwe: Ben Stokes (captain), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith, Ollie Pope, Jordan Cox, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Sam Cook, Matthew Potts, Josh Tongue
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