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Sam Cook Set for England Test Debut as Injury-Hit Squad Faces Zimbabwe

Posted : 02 May 2025

Essex seamer Sam Cook has been selected for England’s squad for the one-off Test against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge, putting him in line for a potential debut. The 27-year-old has earned his place after consistent performances in domestic cricket, particularly as several regular pace bowlers are sidelined due to injury.

 

With Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Brydon Carse, and Olly Stone all unavailable and Jofra Archer focusing on his IPL commitments, England will field a relatively inexperienced pace attack to begin a year that includes high-profile series against India and Australia.

 

The squad also sees a return for Nottinghamshire’s Josh Tongue, who last played for England almost two years ago, while Gus Atkinson and Matthew Potts add depth to the seam department. If Cook, Tongue, and Atkinson are picked for the XI, they would collectively hold just 13 Test caps, marking England’s least experienced home pace trio since Zimbabwe's previous tour in 2003.

 

Notably, it will also be one of the rare occasions since 2007 that the team will line up without Anderson, Broad, or Woakes. Alongside Cook, uncapped batter Jordan Cox reappears in the squad, recovering from a previous thumb injury that delayed his debut.

 

Captain Ben Stokes is set to return following hamstring surgery, although his bowling workload may be limited. Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope retain their top-order positions, while Shoaib Bashir continues as the only frontline spinner. Cook’s inclusion is a significant moment, as he’s long been viewed as a classical English swing bowler—effective more for control and movement than sheer pace.

 

Despite Dan Worrall’s new eligibility for England, the selectors opted for Cook, whose first-class record of 318 wickets at under 20 speaks volumes. England, overwhelming favourites for the match, will face a Zimbabwe side that recently secured a commendable 1-1 series draw in Bangladesh.

 

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