Cricket Banter

England v Australia next Saturday could be a right old comedy of errors

Harry Brook has been appointed England's white ball captain.

10 batters retired out - UAE cleverly beat the rain - https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/articles/c2e3k3xx7edo

Hmmmmm

Rohit Sharma has announced his retirement from test cricket and he's now been joined by Virat Kohli.

Two of the Indian batting greats leaving at the same time.

One off Test Match

England v Zimbabwe - Trent Bridge
11am start

Zimbabwe won toss and field

England 1st innings: 498/3
Pope 169no, Duckett 140, Crawley 124
(Close of play Day One)

22 years have passed since England & Zimbabwe last played at Test Match, so long that the Chester-le-Street game was one match after Jimmy Anderson made his England Test debut.
As with the Ireland match in 2023 this is set to be a 4 day affair. Zimbabwe are pushing for inclusion in the World Test Championship, trying to break into the elite 9 teams by playing 11 Test this year.
Still lots of interest on both sides, England continue to back the below par Crawley & Pope, Sam Cook finally set to make his debut & the return of Josh Tongue, & a fully fit Stokes who is set to bowl.
Zimbabwe will have the middle Curran brother playing for his fathers country of birth, after losing his county contract with Northamptonshire he played in Zimbabwe domestic cricket & flourished at that lesser standard, which resulted in an ODI & Test call up.
I'm excited to see some more of Blessing Muzarabani the 6'8" pace bowler has got to 50 Test wickets in 12 matches, he will head off to the IPL after this match, drafted in by RCB for the knockout stages.

One off Test Match

England v Zimbabwe - Trent Bridge
Day Two

Zimbabwe won toss and field

England 1st innings: 565/6 dec (96.3 overs)
Pope 171, Brook 58
Muzarabani 3/143

Zimbabwe 1st innings: 265 all out (63.2 overs)
Bennett 139
Bashir 3/62

Zimbabwe 2nd innings (following on) 30/2

(Close of play)

One off Test Match

England v Zimbabwe - Trent Bridge
Day Three

Zimbabwe won toss and field

England 1st innings: 565/6 dec (96.3 overs)

Zimbabwe 1st innings: 265 all out (63.2 overs)

Zimbabwe 2nd innings (following on) 255 all out (59 overs)
Williams 88
Bashir 6/81

England won by an innings and 45 runs

Pleased for Bashir winning man of the match. Nine wickets in the match and six in the 2nd innings to wrap up victory against Zimbabwe.
Hopefully will give him a nice boost in confidence going into the future test matches this summer.
Harry Brook with an utterly ridiculous catch off Stokes to snare Madhevere on 31. Worth watching over and over again is that grab.

Bashir did a good bowling job for England, but the quicks weren't international class. Bring back Wood and Archer.