Sikandar Raza and Ben Stokes [Source: @ICC/X]
England is going to host Zimbabwe for a one-off Test match at Trent Bridge in Nottingham United Kingdom and the encounter is going to be a thrilling one. The Test match has been scheduled to be played on May 22 and the match will be live from 3:30 PM IST for fans.
England
England enter the upcoming Test against Zimbabwe with a mixed run of form. Though, most recently, they bagged the series against New Zealand, England has blown hot and cold this year. The English men will, therefore, look to regroup and perform against Zimbabwe as this might be their salvation and warm-up ahead of the India series in June.
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe heads into the Test against England after a tough home series against Bangladesh, where they tied the series 1-1. They claimed a hard-fought win in the first Test. However, they suffered a heavy innings defeat in the second Test. Hence, Zimbabwe will be keen to find stability and put up a stronger fight against a higher-ranked England side.
ENG vs ZIM Head-To-Head Records In Tests
Categories | Zimbabwe | England |
Matches Played | 6 | 6 |
Matches Won | 0 | 3 |
Matches Lost | 0 | 0 |
No Result | 0 | 0 |
Tied | 3 | 3 |
How Will The Trent Bridge Pitch Behave?
The pitch at Trent Bridge is traditionally known as a batting-friendly surface with consistent bounce and carry. Early in the match, the pitch tends to assist seam bowlers with some movement off the seam, especially under overcast conditions typical of England in May.
However, the greenish-brown surface generally flattens out as the game progresses, making strokeplay easier for batters. Spinners may find some assistance later on from footmarks, but the pitch largely favours batters in the first half of the Test. Teams winning the toss often prefer to bat first to capitalize on the good batting conditions and set a strong total.
Player To Watch Out For In ENG vs ZIM Only Test
England
Ben Stokes
Ben Stokes will be a key player for England in the Test against Zimbabwe thanks to his recent all-round form. He scored 158 runs across five innings against New Zealand, including a solid 80 in the series opener. With the ball, Stokes picked up 7 wickets in six innings, showing his ability to deliver crucial breakthroughs and control the game’s tempo.
Ollie Pope
Ollie Pope heads into the England vs Zimbabwe Test with solid domestic form, having scored 230 runs in seven County Championship innings for Surrey. His highlight was a classy 103 off 135 balls, showing his ability to anchor the innings. With a strike rate of 58.23, Pope has combined patience and aggression well, making him a dependable option for the Test.
Harry Brook
Harry Brook enters the England vs Zimbabwe Test in top form, having scored 350 runs in five innings against New Zealand at an average of 70.00. His standout knocks include a fluent 171 and a quickfire 123, highlighting his ability to dominate bowling attacks. With a strike rate of 92.11, Brook’s aggressive style adds firepower to England’s middle order.
Zimbabwe
Craig Ervine
Craig Ervine will be key for Zimbabwe in the upcoming Test against England, having scored 254 runs in four innings against Afghanistan back in 2024-25 at an impressive average of 84.67. His solid knocks, including a century and two fifties, underline his consistency at the top. Hence, Ervine brings experience and stability to Zimbabwe’s batting lineup.
Sikandar Raza
Sikandar Raza will be an important all-rounder for Zimbabwe in the Test against England. He scored 99 runs in two innings at an average of 49.50 and a steady strike rate of 52.94 in the recent Afghanistan series. With the ball, he also picked up 4 wickets, including a 3-wicket haul, showcasing his value in both departments.
Ben Curran
Ben Curran showed consistency for Zimbabwe in the recent Test series against Bangladesh. He scored 129 runs across four innings at an average of 32.25, providing stability at the top. His ability to spend time at the crease and rotate strike will be crucial against England’s bowling attack.
Today’s Match Prediction: ENG vs ZIM Only Test
Predicted Top Performers
England: Ben Stokes, Ollie Pope, Harry Brook
Zimbabwe: Craig Ervine, Sikandar Raza, Richard Ngarava
ENG vs ZIM Only Test: Predicted Score
Predicted first innings score: 320-330
Predicted second innings score: 310-320
Predicted third innings score: 260-270
Predicted fourth innings score: 200-210