England vs Zimbabwe: England Announces Squad for One-Off Test, Ben Stokes Returns As Captain

England Announces Squad of 13-players for the England vs Zimbabwe one-off Test, which starts on Thursday, May 22, at Trent Bridge in Nottingham. The game, even though it is not part of the World Test Championship cycle, is a big game for England as they head into tougher challenges ahead, such as a five-match series against India later this year and the much-awaited Ashes series.

Ben Stokes Returns to Full Fitness for England vs Zimbabwe

The largest piece of news from England’s team announcement is that captain Ben Stokes has returned from rehabilitation after sitting out the Champions Trophy 2025.

Stokes, who has been instrumental in England’s Test and white-ball fortunes over the past few years, will lead the Three Lions once more as they face Zimbabwe in what looks to be an interesting match. His guidance and experience will be crucial for the team’s preparations before the tougher series later in 2025.

Uncapped Players: Jordan Cox and Sam Cook Earn Call-Ups

In a surprising move, England has selected two uncapped players, Sam Cook and Jordan Cox, for this one-off Test. The two players provide new talent for the team, and their addition gives the team depth. Though they have not yet made their Test debuts, their presence in the team reflects England’s emphasis on bringing up new players while keeping the core of old players strong.

Vets Led by Stokes

Though there are newcomers to the team, England’s side is still very much experienced. Opener Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett will be expected to open together, with Joe Root, Ollie Pope, and Harry Brook looking to stabilize the middle order.

Brook, who was named the white-ball captain recently, has also been included in the team. The addition of Jamie Smith as a wicketkeeper, with Jordan Cox as his cover, provides more depth to England’s batting and keeping options.

Bowling Attack: Balanced Pace and Spin Options

England has carefully selected its fast-bowling unit for the Test, with Gus Atkinson leading the charge. Joining Atkinson are Josh Tongue, Matthew Potts, and Jordan Cox, who are all capable pacemen, ensuring England has a well-rounded attack to take on Zimbabwe’s batting lineup.

In the spin department, Shoaib Bashir has been included as the only spinner in the team. Though England’s spin options are not much for this game, having Bashir adds some depth to the bowling line-up.

Absences: Chris Woakes and Mark Wood

Though a regular in England’s Test team, experienced all-rounder Chris Woakes has been surprisingly left out of this team. His exclusion is likely a tactical decision, with England focusing on other combinations for this match.

On the other hand, Mark Wood, who has been a key player in England’s fast-bowling arsenal, remains out of action for at least four months due to injury. However, there is hope that Wood will return in time for the Ashes later in the year.

Zimbabwe’s Recent Performance and Test Outlook

Zimbabwe goes into the series against England after a mixed but decent show against Bangladesh. The visitors were able to tie the two-Test series 1-1, with Zimbabwe taking the first Test at Sylhet.

But in the second Test at Chattogram, Zimbabwe’s batting was exposed under pressure, courtesy of the excellent bowling by Bangladesh’s Taijul Islam and Mehidy Hasan Miraz. Despite that, Zimbabwe was able to scrape through for a draw and finish the series on equal terms.

This performance will provide Zimbabwe with some confidence coming into the one-off Test against England, albeit they have a difficult task against an English team of good strength.

England Announces Squad for England vs Zimbabwe One-Off Test, 2025

Ben Stokes (captain)

Zak Crawley

Ben Duckett

Ollie Pope

Joe Root

Harry Brook

Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper)

Josh Tongue

Gus Atkinson

Shoaib Bashir

Jordan Cox

Sam Cook

Matthew Potts

England to Face Zimbabwe in Important One-Off Test

England’s team for the next Test against Zimbabwe is an even blend of youth and experience, with skipper Ben Stokes at the helm. Stokes’ return from full fitness and the addition of uncapped players such as Jordan Cox and Sam Cook give the team an interesting flavor.

Even with the absence of influential players such as Chris Woakes and Mark Wood, England’s solid core of top-order batsmen and fast bowlers ought to place them in a position of dominance against Zimbabwe.

Ahead of the grueling series against India and the Ashes, this one-off Test against Zimbabwe is a vital chance for players to make a case for being picked in the future.

ALSO READ: South Africa Women vs Sri Lanka Women: 4th Highest Chase In Women’s ODI History By SL