England will begin their first Test match of the home summer later this week against Zimbabwe.
It's now more than five months since England last played a Test match, and while there are several differences in the squad which will arrive at Trent Bridge in the next couple of days to the one that last played in New Zealand, the questions they face feel broadly similar. This will be the only chance for several names to reassert or stake their claim to a place for the marquee series of the summer against India next month, and with the Ashes following on from that series, there's plenty at stake.
Here's what could be learned from the four-day game.
Pope v Crawley
England's top order remains an area of debate. Jacob Bethell's absence means the can will once again be kicked down the road, but the end of that road is looming. From where we left off in New Zealand, Bethell looked to be the coming man, making half-centuries in each of the three Tests. Pope and Crawley each had tough years in 2024, and if Bethell is to return for the India series, it's one of those two who will have to miss out. Neither Pope nor Crawley have started brilliantly in the County Championship this season. How they go against Zimbabwe could have a big impact on how their cards fall against India later in the summer.
Can Bashir last the course?
Shoaib Bashir had a prime opportunity in the first half of England's Test winter in Pakistan to nail down his position as their first choice red-ball spinner. Instead, he came out of that series with more question marks over his name, having been out-bowled by Pakistan's Noman Ali and Sajid Khan and, at times, Jack Leach. However, he was backed again for the New Zealand series, where he once again did little to move the conversation on.
Now, having gone on loan to Glamorgan at the start of the summer to guarantee some cricket, those questions feel more urgent. He took two wickets in the first three matches of the Division Two Championship, at an average of 152. He also hasn't played any first-class cricket since his loan spell at Glamorgan came to an end a month ago. Protestations of early April pitches are also wearing thin, with Leach currently in the top five wicket-takers in Division One. England have invested a lot in Bashir, committed to nurturing him into the type of spinner they want. However, time is now running out for him to show them the rewards of that investment.
Can Cook handle Test cricket?
Tenacity and sheer domestic numbers have kept Sam Cook in the England conversation for the last few years, but becoming the chased rather than the chaser poses tougher questions. Cook will be keen to show he's more than a County Championship titan, and has proven his skills with the Kookaburra ball, both in the rounds it was used in last year's County Championship and in Australia over the winter. However, he will have to outrace the host of seamers both currently injured and vying for a similar type of role he can fill in order to continue to demand that selection. On the face of it, Cook doesn't bowl with real pace and, despite the fanfare, he's an unknown quantity at Test level. Zimbabwe will be a chance to show he belongs, and claim an extended run against India.
Can Stokes resume an all-round role?
Stokes said he feels "very, very confident" he can fully execute his role as an all-rounder against Zimbabwe, and it would be a relief for England if he can. When he was injured against Sri Lanka and in the first Pakistan Test last year, England looked a batter light, and having Stokes in that No.6 gives the XI a far more balanced look. Stokes has been keen to stress he's taking his return from the hamstring injury he aggravated in New Zealand much slower the second time round. Ensuring he can physically get through a full role against Zimbabwe will be the first tick off the list ahead of 10 crucial Tests England will desperately want him to play.
England have surged to second place in the latest ICC Test rankings, leapfrogging South Africa and India after a solid run of three series wins in the past year.#Cricket #ICCRankings pic.twitter.com/QfGdOepOgH
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) May 5, 2025
Can Tongue restate Test class?
Josh Tongue's last Test match, against Australia at Lord's, feels like a cricketing lifetime ago. It's easy to forget amidst the Jonny Bairstow stumping drama, Stokes century, Nathan Lyon injury and hundred other things that happened during that Test, Tongue marked himself out as an impressive prospect. He bowled with decent heat, and was effective in executing the bouncer policy England employed in the second innings. Having spent the entirety of 2024 injured, Tongue has been one of the standout bowlers in the early County Championship block. Since his debut, the likes of Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse have emerged as competitors to a first string spot. Tongue has a chance now to show why, when he's fit, he should demand selection.
Can England shake-off the bad early 2025 vibes?
Wins have been rare for England over the first five months of 2025. They lost all but one of their white-ball matches in India and the Champions Trophy, and breaking that losing streak would go some way to injecting positivity into the atmosphere which currently surrounds English cricket. It would also go some way to banishing the off-field distractions, from Jos Buttler's resignation to near-constant golf discourse pulling headlines. While there's no quick fix, a strong performance beyond just sealing a win against a side they're expected to beat would at least give them some respite.
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