Zimbabwe win toss, bowl against England in one-off Test

Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine won the toss and elected to field in a one-off Test against England at Trent Bridge on Thursday.

The overcast conditions in Nottingham promised to aid a Zimbabwe attack featuring 6ft 8in paceman Blessing Muzarabani, who has already taken 26 Test wickets at an average of under 19 this year.

“Due to the overhead conditions, hopefully we can utilise the first session and get a little bit out of the ball,” said Ervine at the toss.

Zimbabwe came into this four-day Test match against England on the back of a 138-run thrashing by a County Select XI in their lone warm-up game at Grace Road.

But Ervine said: “Usually our preparation is a lot shorter than this. We’ve really enjoyed spending time in Leicester. Our guys got a lot out of that.

“It’s a special occasion today. The guys are really excited to get going and be part of this Test match. In the 2003 Test, my brother (Sean) was involved, and he’s watching today. It’s a momentous occasion for all of us, and it will only sink in later down the line.”

England had already named their team on Tuesday, with Sam Cook given a Test debut. Cook’s place was a reward for one of county cricket’s most consistent wicket-takers with Essex.

The 27-year-old’s 321 first-class wickets have come at an average of only 19.85.

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The clash with Zimbabwe is only England’s second home Test without retired fast bowlers James Anderson and Stuart Broad — who presented Cook with his England cap — and the injured Chris Woakes, in the past 18 years.

Zak Crawley has been retained as one of England’s opening batters alongside Ben Duckett. England captain Ben Stokes is making a comeback after the all-rounder’s lengthy rehabilitation from his latest hamstring tear.

“Generally, here the wicket is good at Trent Bridge,” said Stokes. “Go out with the bat in hand and put a big score on the board.

“It is exciting for Cooky (Sam Cook). Broady (Stuart Broad) gave him the cap and said ‘he hasn’t knocked the door down, but he kicked it down’.”

The Zimbabwe Test is a warm-up for England ahead of the five-match series against India, which will be followed by their tour to Australia for the Ashes later this year.

England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (capt), Jamie Smith (wkt), Gus Atkinson, Sam Cook, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir

Zimbabwe: Ben Curran, Brian Bennett, Craig Ervine (capt), Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Wessly Madhevere, Tafadzwa Tsiga (wkt), Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani, Tanaka Chivanga, Victor Nyauchi

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