England scored 565-6 declared against Zimbabwe, completing an all-England top five for the fastest-scoring Test innings of 500 runs or more.
The hosts were put in to bat on the first day (Thursday) by Zimbabwe skipper Craig Ervine. England openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett made the most of some favourable conditions and slightly wayward bowling, putting on 50 runs in 62 balls, and 100 in 123 balls.
One-off Test, England vs Zimbabwe
vs
- Ball by ball Over
The pair kept up a brisk scoring rate throughout their innings, with Duckett dominating. He was the first to go for 140, scored at better than run-a-ball with England's score at 231.
No.3 Ollie Pope then picked up from where Duckett left off, scoring a half-century off 48 balls even as Crawley also went past the three-figure mark. By the end of day one, Pope joined the openers with his own century, meaning all of England's top three had scored centuries to set a world record – the only top three to have achieved the feat more than once. At stumps, they were 498-3 from 88 overs.
Pope departed early on day two, but Harry Brook and Ben Stokes ensured the scoring rate did not drop. They took England past 550, eventually declaring after Brook's dismissal with the score at 565-6 in 96.3 overs.
Read more: England No.3 extends world record with eighth Test hundred against eighth Test nation
England declare at 565-6, scoring just under run-a-ball
England scored at 5.85 runs per over – the third-highest run rate for a team innings of 500 runs or more in Test cricket history. This effort now means that all the top five quickest 500-plus innings in Test cricket belong to England. All of these efforts have come since Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes took charge of the side in 2022.
The fastest-scoring 500-plus score in Test cricket is their 657 all out in 101 overs against Pakistan in 2022. There have been five other instances of teams scoring over 500 runs at better than five runs an over.
Fastest team innings of 500-plus runs in Test cricket, full list
| Team | Score | Overs | Run Rate | Opponent | Venue | Year |
| England | 657 | 101.0 | 6.50 | Pakistan | Rawalpindi | 2022 |
| England | 524-4d | 82.4 | 6.33 | Ireland | Lord's | 2023 |
| England | 565-6d | 96.3 | 5.85 | Zimbabwe | Nottingham | 2025 |
| England | 592 | 107.4 | 5.49 | Australia | Manchester | 2023 |
| England | 823-7d | 150.0 | 5.48 | Pakistan | Multan | 2024 |
| Sri Lanka | 555-5d | 103.3 | 5.36 | Bangladesh | Colombo (SSC) | 2001 |
| Australia | 550 | 107.2 | 5.12 | South Africa | Adelaide | 2012 |
| Australia | 583-4d | 114.0 | 5.11 | West Indies | Hobart | 2015 |
| South Africa | 569 | 111.5 | 5.08 | Australia | W.A.C.A | 2012 |
| Australia | 735-6d | 146.3 | 5.01 | Zimbabwe | W.A.C.A | 2003 |
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