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England and Zimbabwe will face off in a rare four-day Test match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, on May 22, as part of Zimbabwe’s 2025 tour of England. This fixture is historic, marking Zimbabwe’s first Test against England since 2003 and their return to the Test fold after years of rebuilding.
England, captained by Ben Stokes, field a strong squad featuring key batters Zak Crawley, Joe Root, Harry Brook, and Ollie Pope. The bowling attack is refreshed with young pacers Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue, and debutant Sam Cook. Spinner Shoaib Bashir will provide variety on a pitch known for assisting seamers.
Zimbabwe, led by Craig Ervine, bring a blend of experience and talent. Sikandar Raza and Sean Williams are pivotal, with Williams in excellent form. The pace attack will be led by Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava. Opener Ben Curran, with English county experience, adds stability at the top.
ENG vs ZIM, Match details: One-off Test
- Date & Time: May 22, 3:30 pm IST/ 10:00 am GMT/ 11:00 am Local
- Venue: Trent Bridge, Nottingham
Trent Bridge Pitch Report:
The pitch at Trent Bridge for the England vs Zimbabwe Test is expected to be predominantly batting-friendly, offering good bounce and pace that allows batters to play their shots confidently. Early on, seamers may find some assistance, especially with the new ball, but as the match progresses, the surface tends to flatten out, making run-scoring easier. Spinners could come into play later in the game, exploiting any rough patches created by the fast bowlers. Overall, teams winning the toss are likely to prefer batting first to take advantage of the fresh surface and set a strong total, as high scores are common at this venue.
ENG vs ZIM Dream11 Prediction Picks:
- Wicketkeeper: Jamie Smith
- Batters: Craig Ervine, Zak Crawley, Harry Brook, Ben Curran
- All-rounders: Sean Williams, Ben Stokes, Joe Root, Sikandar Raza
- Bowlers: Blessing Muzarabani, Gus Atkinson
ENG vs ZIM Dream11 Captain and Vice-Captain:
- Choice 1: Harry Brook (c), Ben Curran (vc)
- Choice 2: Blessing Muzarabani (c), Joe Root (vc)
Also READ: 5 players to watch out for in ENG vs ZIM one-off Test ft. Harry Brook
ENG vs ZIM Dream11 Prediction Backups:
Matthew Potts, Sam Cook, Richard Ngarava, Wellington Masakadza
ENG vs ZIM Dream11 Team for today’s match (May 22, 3:30 pm IST):
Squads:
England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith, Ollie Pope, James Rew, Shoaib Bashir, Gus Atkinson, Matthew Potts, Sam Cook, Josh Tongue
Zimbabwe: Craig Ervine (c), Ben Curran, Nick Welch, Brian Bennett, Wessly Madhevere, Sikandar Raza, Sean Williams, Clive Madande, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Richard Ngarava, Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani, Newman Nyamhuri, Victor Nyauchi
Also READ: Here’s the reason why England captain Ben Stokes gave up alcohol ahead of India Tests
