The cricketing world is abuzz with anticipation as England prepare to host Zimbabwe in a historic one-off Test match at the Trent Bridge in Nottingham from May 22-25. This four-day encounter marks the first Test between the two nations since 2003, ending a 22-year hiatus in their red-ball rivalry.
It is also the first time these two teams will face-off in 18 years after their last meeting in the 2007 T20 World Cup. This fixture is scheduled as the curtain-raiser to England’s blockbuster home summer, which includes a five-match Test series against India.
ENG vs ZIM Match Preview
England’s squad blends experience with fresh talent, headlined by the debut of Essex seamer Sam Cook, whose 321 first-class wickets have earned him a call-up. The pace attack, led by Gus Atkinson with 11 Test caps, includes the returning Josh Tongue, who impressed in 2023 before injuries sidelined him, and captain Ben Stokes, back to full fitness after a hamstring issue.
The batting line-up is formidable, featuring Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root and Harry Brook, with Jamie Smith resuming wicket-keeping duties. Shoaib Bashir is the only spinner in the squad.
England in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 cycle won 11 out of 22 matches, but with this Test outside the WTC, they will focus on refining their aggressive style for the upcoming series against India and Australia while respecting Zimbabwe’s potential to surprise.
Zimbabwe, led by Craig Ervine, will be aiming to make a mark in what is their first bilateral series against England in two decades. Their schedule this year is their busiest ever, with 11 Tests planned, reflecting their ambition to reclaim a foothold in the longest format.
While they lost the warm-up match against Professional County Club Select XI by 138 runs, they recently drew a Test series versus Bangladesh. Zimbabwe won the first match of the series by three wickets and lost the following game by an innings and 106 runs.
ENG vs ZIM Head-to-Head
England and Zimbabwe have faced each other in six Test matches in the past. England won three of these games, while the remaining matches ended in a draw.
ENG vs ZIM One-Off Test Live Streaming Details
- Q: When will the ENG vs ZIM match be played?
A: The match will be played on May 22, Thursday.
- Q: Where will the ENG vs ZIM match be played?
A: It will be played at the Trent Bridge in Nottingham.
- Q: What time will the ENG vs ZIM match start?
A: The match will start at 3:30 PM IST.
- Q: How to watch the ENG vs ZIM match live on TV?
A: The match will be broadcasted live on the Sony Sports network.
- Q: Where to watch the ENG vs ZIM match live online?
A: The match will be live-streamed on the Sony Liv app and website and FanCode.
To know more about one-off Test match between ENG and ZIM:
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