England have announced their playing XI for the upcoming one-off four-day Test against Zimbabwe, to be played at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, from May 22 to 25. The fixture will be England’s first red-ball meeting with Zimbabwe since 2003 and marks a key tune-up ahead of their five-match Test series against India later this year.

The headline from England’s announcement is the inclusion of uncapped Essex seamer Sam Cook, who will make his Test debut. The 27-year-old has been a standout performer on the county circuit, taking over 300 wickets at an average below 20. His performances this season, 10 wickets already in the 2025 County Championship, have made a compelling case for selection.

Joining Cook in the pace attack is Josh Tongue, who returns to the Test arena for the first time since the Ashes Test at Lord’s in June 2023. His comeback adds experience and potency to a bowling unit that also features Gus Atkinson and skipper Ben Stokes, now fully recovered from the hamstring injury that sidelined him during the winter.

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Stable Top Order, Bashir Trusted with Spin, Rew, and Potts Miss Out

There are no surprises at the top of the order, with Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett continuing their partnership. Ollie Pope remains at No. 3, with the seasoned trio of Joe Root, Harry Brook, and Ben Stokes forming a formidable middle order. Jamie Smith keeps the gloves for this match, having impressed in the second half of 2024. His emergence as a reliable wicketkeeper-batter gives England flexibility in team selection moving forward.

With spin duties, Shoaib Bashir has been backed again as England’s frontline option. The 21-year-old off-spinner has shown significant promise since debuting and continues to grow in stature. With no second spinner in the XI, Bashir will carry the spin load alone in Nottingham. From the wider squad, James Rew and Matthew Potts are the two players to miss out. Rew was a late addition as cover for the injured Jordan Cox, but hasn’t been selected in the final XI.

England XI for One-Off Test vs Zimbabwe:

Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue, Sam Cook, Shoaib Bashir

England will host Zimbabwe in a historic one-off Test match, which represents the first time the two teams will meet for a Test since 2003. This Test match will commence on May 22, 2025, at the home of cricket, Trent Bridge in Nottingham, and is a four-day Test match. For Indian cricket enthusiasts, here's all you need to know about how and where to watch the ENG vs ZIM Test match live on television and online.

Match Details

• Event: England vs Zimbabwe One-Off Test
  
• Date: May 22–25, 2025
  
• Venue: Trent Bridge, Nottingham, England
  
• Start Time: 3:30 PM IST (11:00 AM local time)
  

This match is a golden chance for Zimbabwe, under the captaincy of Craig Ervine, to try their strength against a strong England team which is skippered by Ben Stokes, coming back from injury. For England, it's an opportunity to get into shape for a blockbuster five-match Test series against India in the latter part of the summer.

Where to Watch in India

Indian cricket fans can watch all the action of the one-off Test England vs Zimbabwe on the following platforms:

Live Telecast on Television

• Channel: Sony Sports Network
  

The live telecast of the match will take place on Sony Sports Network so that fans can enjoy the match on TV with good-quality coverage.

Live Streaming Online

• Platforms: SonyLIV, Jio TV, and FanCode
  
• SonyLIV: SonyLIV is the primary platform to watch the Test match on live streaming. You will need the app or to go on its website. You may need to subscribe
• to SonyLIV to watch the live stream.
  
• Jio TV: Jio users can watch the match live on the Jio TV app and enjoy the convenience of live streaming to mobile.
  
• FanCode: Another reliable platform is FanCode. You will also be able to watch the match live on FanCode, which is good for the fans who prefer to watch the match live online.
  

You don't want to miss out on the action due to a poor internet service, so make sure you have a good plan. double check if you have to pay or subscribe to the service when using these platforms. 

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How to Remain Updated

For viewers who cannot catch the live broadcast or stream, live updates can be tracked through:

• Live Score Applications: Cricbuzz, ESPNcricinfo, and the websites of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Zimbabwe Cricket.
• Social Media: Watch live updates, highlights, and behind-the-scenes on official accounts such as @ZimCricketv and @bbctms on X.