Ben Stokes is officially back and ready to lead England, having been declared fit to captain the side in their one-off Test against Zimbabwe later this month. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced the 13-man squad on Friday, with the talismanic all-rounder returning after a lengthy recovery from hamstring surgery.
Stokes, 33, suffered his second hamstring tear in five months during England’s tour of New Zealand in December 2024. Though he hasn’t played for Durham so far this season, England selectors are confident in his fitness to take charge of the national side in their red-ball summer opener. The match, scheduled for May 22–25 at Trent Bridge, will be a rare four-day Test — a format occasionally used by the ECB to trial alternatives to the traditional five-day setup.
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Sam Cook, Jordan Cox Earn First Test Call-Ups
Essex seamer Sam Cook is one of the standout inclusions, earning his maiden Test call-up after years of consistent performance in the County Championship. The 27-year-old has taken 318 first-class wickets at an outstanding average of under 20, though some critics have questioned whether his pace will translate effectively at the Test level. With several frontline pacers — including Mark Wood, Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, and Olly Stone — ruled out due to injury, Cook could find himself in England whites for the first time.
Joining him is uncapped teammate Jordan Cox, a promising batter who will likely serve as a backup option in the batting department. The squad sees the return of Josh Tongue, who last played during the 2023 Ashes and will be eager to perform at his home ground in Nottingham.
Familiar Faces, Tactical Decisions
Off-spinner Shoaib Bashir has retained his place despite an underwhelming start to the 2025 domestic season. Ollie Pope returns as England’s likely No. 3, while Jamie Smith will don the gloves in the absence of Jonny Bairstow and Ben Foakes.
The pace attack will likely feature a mix of Gus Atkinson, Potts, Tongue, and potentially Cook, especially with Stokes possibly not bowling due to lingering fitness concerns. Jofra Archer, although back in limited-overs cricket, remains unavailable for red-ball duties.
This will be Zimbabwe’s first Test on English soil since 2003. Despite their struggles over the years, the African side recently secured a morale-boosting Test win against Bangladesh — their first in four years — and will be eager to punch above their weight at Trent Bridge.
England’s 13-Man Squad for the Zimbabwe Test
- Ben Stokes (C)
- Gus Atkinson
- Shoaib Bashir
- Harry Brook
- Sam Cook
- Jordan Cox
- Zak Crawley
- Ben Duckett
- Ollie Pope
- Matthew Potts
- Joe Root
- Jamie Smith (wk)
- Josh Tongue
With a busy summer ahead, including a five-match Test series against India and preparations for the 2025/26 Ashes, this match will be a crucial starting point for England’s red-ball ambitions.
