Key events
29th over: Zimbabwe 131-2 (Bennett 69, Williams 11) Williams is adamant on sweeping and almost edges back onto his stumps. I suppose it’s worked as Bashir loses his length, dragging one down so Williams cuts hard to the fielder in the deep. Just the single of that one.
28th over: Zimbabwe 129-2 (Bennett 68, Williams 10) Cook is on the money right away. Nagging length, hovering around the top of off, he has Bennett follow one that jags away. Lucky not to get a nick on that. He does nick the next ball from the front foot but it flies between second slip and gully. Stokes can’t believe it. Bennett squeezes a single behind square to get up to safety. Good return from Cook.
27th over: Zimbabwe 124-2 (Bennett, Williams 10) Bashir from round the wicket to left-handed Williams has settled on a tidy line around off-stump. Williams looks eager to hit him off that spot, first trying to cut a straight-ish ball then sweeping one that looked a touch too full to do so. He survives and Bashir closes with a maiden.
Looks like Cook will replace Tongue from the Stuart Broad end.
26th over: Zimbabwe 124-2 (Bennett 63, Williams 10) Bennett is in the groove. After getting squared up by a jaffa from Tongue, the right hander crunches a pull shot behind square and then leans on a textbook perfect on drive. He looks dialled in here.
25th over: Zimbabwe 116-2 (Bennett 55, Williams 10) Bashir is giving it a bit of air – I like it – and inviting the right-hander Bennett to drive. He does so and gets two to the right of the sweeper in the deep and then picks out the man at short extra. A single brings Williams on strike who ends the set with a neat clip off the back foot for four down to fine leg.
24th over: Zimbabwe 109-2 (Bennett 52, Williams 6) Thanks Jim. Stellar effort as always. Hello everyone. Well this is pretty tidy from Zimbabwe, isn’t it?
Bennett reaches his 50 with a delicious cover drive for four from Tongue’s half-] volley. Williams punches for two and the pair of them collect a single each.
James Wallace
23rd over: Zimbabwe 100-2 (Bennett 46, Williams 3) Zimbabwe bring up their hundred and the three figures are cheered heartily by their full voiced fans inside Trent Bridge.
Don’t cheer quite so heartily but I’m off for an early bath and Daniel Gallan is easing himself into the OBO armchair for the afternoon. Thanks for your company and comments, ta-ra!
22nd over: Zimbabwe 99-2 (Bennett 46, Williams 3) Tongue is operating around the high 80 mph mark and ouchy that is nasty! A short ball is ducked into by Williams as the batter turned his head at the last minute. There’s a delay whilst he’s checked over and his helmet is swapped but he’s good to continue. Tongue follows up with a full ball on the stump but the batter is equal to it, getting forward and blocking away into the off side.
21st over: Zimbabwe 97-2 (Bennett 46, Williams 1) Sean Williams is the new batter and is off the mark with a poke down to mid-on. Bashir has bowled well so far today, he had one over where he was carted about but has settled down well. A lengthy spell and a few wickets will do him the world of good.
WICKET! Craig Ervine c Brook b Shoaib Bashir 42 (Zimbabwe 96-2)
From nowhere Shoaib Bashir produces a beauty that pitches and spits across Craig Ervine, taking the edge of his defensive stroke and just carrying to Harry Brook at slip who takes a sharp low catch. Bashir is mobbed by his teammates and has something of a relieved smile on his face. It was a really lovely delivery.
20th over: Zimbabwe 96-1 (Bennett 46, Ervine 42) Tongue takes Ervine’s edge but it flies in the vacant third slip region and away for four. A good delivery that is followed up by a bouncer that is too steep and called a wide. Stuart Broad lightly chastises from the commentary box, saying that you shouldn’t let the pressure dissipate with that next ball after a chance. England’s bowling attack is very inexperienced, If Zimbabwe can repel them for most of this afternoon session then they may well start to get a bit twitchy.
19th over: Zimbabwe 91-1 (Bennett 46, Ervine 37) Twelve runs off the over as Bennett gets hold of Bashir! Tossed up and thrashed away, Ben Stokes keeps his fielders in and encourages but the next is smeared away too. A Ben Duckett mis-field turns a one into three, Zimbabwe have started the brighter of the two sides after the lunch break.
18th over: Zimbabwe 79-1 (Bennett 37, Ervine 34) Tongue bustles to the crease, his speed is up to 87MPH but it’s no mither for Ervine who punches square off the back foot for a sublime four. Zimbabwe have been impressive with the bat, this partnership edges towards fifty.
17th over: Zimbabwe 70-1 (Bennett 36, Ervine 27) A maiden to start after lunch and Shoaib Bashir gives it a bit more air, flighting a couple up above the eyes whereas he was darting them in before lunch. Nerves settling perhaps. Tidy over, it’ll be Josh Tongue to continue from the Stuart Broad End.
The players emerge for the afternoon session. Sun shining down brightly at Trent Bridge, lovely conditions to bat. Can Zimbabwe chip away at England’s total and frustrate Ben Stokes and his bowlers. They need 19 more wickets and there’s weather about tomorrow. Let’s play.
Lunchtime Reading:
Lunch – Zimbabwe 73-1 (trail by 492)
Tongue looks threatening but Zimbabwe make it to lunch just one wicket down and runs have come at a fair old lick. The visitors have had a beter morning after a tough day yesterday – taking three wickets and getting to 73 for the loss of just Ben Curran who Sam Cook pocketed for his maiden Test wicket.
15th over: Zimbabwe 70-1 (Bennett 36, Ervine 27) Bashir rattles through a quick over, not much flight but pushing the ball through onto a probing spot on off stump. Just a single clipped off it to Ervine. We’ll have one more from Josh Tongue before lunch.
14th over: Zimbabwe 69-1 (Bennett 36, Ervine 26) A meatily moustachioed Tongue bustles in, he’s a strapping lad and looks extremely awkward to face. Great to see him back in an England shirt too, he’s had a really rough time with injuries in his career. He looks zippy from the off, getting Ervine to hop about and finding the inside edge which loops just wide of a diving Harry Brook at gully. Good start from the Notts seamer on his home surface.
13th over: Zimbabwe 64-1 (Bennett 36, Ervine 21) Gah! Bashir starts with a full toss and is flogged away for four by a gleeful Ervine. The rest of the over is on the button though and there’s a hint of turn. It’s going to be a double change – Josh Tongue has been summoned by Ben Stokes.
12th over: Zimbabwe 59-1 (Bennett 36, Ervine 16) Atkinson spears one in and it lefts past the edge of Bennett’s swishing blade. We’re going to have an early look at Shoaib Bashir… he needs some wickets having only taken two all season, each has cost plenty. He got 49 wickets last year in Test cricket and England have stuck with him.
11th over: Zimbabwe 58-1 (Bennett 36, Ervine 15) Cook nearly cleans Bennett up with an in-swinger that darts back late, the inside edge then evades a diving Jamie Smith down the leg side. Do not mention Mr Foakes…
“Excited to get an early look at Sam Cook, although delays the inevitable commentary highlight of this Summer… “And a change is gonna come at the Pavilion end, it’s Sam Cook” I’ll see myself out – an apologetic Dan Shepherd in Dubai.”
It has not been a long time coming Dan, Michael Atherton has already dropped it in on the TV commentary. Go on then…
10th over: Zimbabwe 54-1 (Bennett 32, Ervine 15) Atherton and Butcher discuss the merits of Woakes, Cook and Potts and whether you could play two of them in the same team. With Wood, Archer, Stone and Woakes injured and Stokes coming back from that bad hamstring tear England need all the bowlers they can get their hands on at the moment. Matt Potts might feel aggrieved to miss out here but I think he’ll get his chance at some point this summer.
9th over: Zimbabwe 52-1 (Bennett 31, Ervine 14) Cook is driven by Bennett through cover for three more. This will be the debate that rages with Sam Cook – because his pace is around the late 70s/early 80s mark on the speed gun the short ball isn’t too much of a threat and batters will feel like they can get on the front foot without fearing they are going to get clonked on the helmet. Cook has obviously found a way with his skill and accuracy and bowled really well for the Lions in Australia over the winter, there is a danger he looks a bit innocuous on flatter surfaces though.
8th over: Zimbabwe 48-1 (Bennett 28, Ervine 13) Atkinson driven off the back foot by Bennett for three and Ervine follows suit with a couple down the ground. I wonder if we might see Josh Tongue for a burst before lunch, there’s about 25 minutes til the interval.
7th over: Zimbabwe 43-1 (Bennett 24, Ervine 7) The dichotomy of Sam Cook. He bowls too full and it rather floats onto the bat of Ervine who has plenty of time to get on the front foot and drive away through cover for four. The very next ball is a beauty though, pitching and leaving the batter on off stump.
6th over: Zimbabwe 38-1 (Bennett 24, Ervine 7) Gus Atkinson hasn’t settled into his groove just yet so far this morning, he gives Ervine width and is flogged through point for four.
5th over: Zimbabwe 34-1 (Bennett 24, Ervine 3) Craig Ervine is the new batter and he’s off the mark with a prod into the off-side. Sam Cook takes his cap and heads down to fine leg where he gets a lovely reception.
WICKET! Ben Curran c Brook b Cook 6 (Zimbabwe 31-1)
There’s the first Test wicket for Sam Cook! Lovely ball and one that he has sent down thousands of times for Essex. Hitting a spot on off stuff and jagging away just enough to take the edge of Ben Curran’s bat as he turned his bat on it slightly. Cook celebrates with abandon, plenty of nervous energy and relief in his double fist pumps! What a moment for him, one he’ll have dreamt about for years. England have their first.
4th over: Zimbabwe 31-0 (Bennett 24, Curran 6) Another fruitful over for Zimbabwe – Curran collects two with a clip off his toes through midwicket and then drives for three down the ground. Atkinson is a bit too wide outside off stump and Brian Bennett doesn’t need a second invitation, he flays away behind point for his sixth boundary.
3rd over: Zimbabwe 22-0 (Bennett 20, Curran 1) “Adding to the middle initials riff” writes Mark Lewis. “Surely IR Bell must be in with a shout…? It wouldn’t be the OBO without The Sledgehammer Of Eternal Justice getting in on the act.”
Tidier over from Sam Cook, a leg bye and four dots and then nearly a catch to Crawley in the slips from Bennett but it landed a bit short and ran away for another boundary. Sprightly start from Zimbabwe.
2nd over: Zimbabwe 17-0 (Bennett 16, Curran 1) The final ball of the previous over was actually a beauty from Cook. Dragged his length back and got the ball to jag off the surface. Signs that there is something in it for the seamers.
Gus Atkinson shares the new ball – he’s the leader of this green attack with only ten months Test experience. Curran jabs off his hip for single into the leg side and Bennett carries on his merry way, carving off the back foot through point for four.
“Afternoon James, did that declaration score give anyone else just a frisson of Adelaide 2006? Still sends a shiver down the spine…”
IT’S STILL TOO SOON TOM HOPKINS!
1st over: Zimbabwe 12-0 (Bennett 12, Curran 0) Cook is right on the money with his first ball, zoning in on off stump. There’s no swing that I can see and Bennett gets an inside edge to a full ball that zips away fine for four to open Zimbabwe’s account. Another inside edge races away through the leg side as Cook is a smidge too full looking for the magic ball first up. Bosh! Another full ball is driven away through the covers to make it three fours in a row to Bennet – Zimbabwe are chasing this down! Twelve off the first over, welcome to Test cricket Sam Cook.
Righto, here comes Sam Cook for his first bowl in Test cricket. He’s earned this chance with some remarkable consistency over the last few years. Brian Bennett and Ben Curran will open up for the visitors – let’s play!
So there will be a few minutes break whilst Zimbabwe strap the pads on. We’ll get a look at Sam Cook on debut before lunch.
WICKET! Harry Brook b Muzarabani 58 (England DECLARE on 565-6)
Brook smears Muzarabani for a six and a four into the leg side to bring up a bludgeoning fifty but then chops on the very next ball. It wasn’t pretty but England won’t mind – Ben Stokes has called them in!
95th over: England 555-5 (Brook 48, Smith 4) Jamie Smith clips off his pads for four but is then DROPPED by the keeper! Chivanga is a bit hit or miss but he gets it spot on and Smith edges behind only to be spilled! It was a regulation chance and should have been taken.
“L Hutton. H Sutcliffe? They did ok I think…” emails a droll Peter Wyatt
95th over: England 548-4 (Brook 45, Smith 0) Jamie Smith is the new batter. The wonderful Don McRae did a lovely interview with him a week or two back. He plays out a dot to his first ball as Blessing has his dander up after pocketing the big beast. Zimbabwe have bowled much better so far today.
WICKET! Ben Stokes c Curran b Muzarabani 9 (England 548-5)
Gone! Stokes has been bounced out by Blessing! A short ball that was well directed and seamed to rear late at Stokes’ helmet – he pulled out of the attempted hook but too late and the top edge is extremely well caught by Ben Curran at deep third.
94th over: England 545-4 (Brook 43, Stokes 8) Brook plays an audacious upper cut to a Chivanga short ball and is DROPPED on the boundary at deep third. Not the best effort from the sub fielder – the wonderfully named Wellington Masakadza. Brook pulverises the next ball for four with a rasping cut shot. He hit that so hard the fielder barely moved in the deep.
Speaking of names, Gareth Wilson drops a missive into the OBO mailbag:
“Hi James- very sad to see Zak Crawley has no middle initial. Will never be an England all timer without at least one of those. Think IT Botham, GA Gooch, PBH May and of course the deliberate MC Cowdrey. Feels sad for the young Crawley to miss out.”
I’m a no middle name man myself Gareth and that isn’t the only reason I’m not an England great. My daughter calls middle names ‘fiddle names’. Which is quite cute… and they can be fiddly. Cherrington anyone?
93rd over: England 531-4 (Brook 31, Stokes 7) Trouble against the short ball? Pah! Harry Brook smashes a Muzarabani bouncer for SIX into the crowd behind square… and again! SIX more the next ball, slightly more top-edgy but same result.
Brook is ticking, he charges at the next two balls but Muzarabani digs them in at his feet. Another full delivery is squirted into the leg side and Stokes calls Brook through for a quick single. Excited burbling in the crowd, there might well be some catches coming their way in the next hour.
92nd over: England 518-4 (Brook 18, Stokes 7) Apologies I just spotted there was a typo in the link for my email at the side of the page – corrected now and you can fling me a missive here.
Harry Brook carves for four and then skips down the track to loft Chivanga over mid off for another. I wonder if Stokes has had a little word in his ear, there is plenty of rain about in Nottingham tomorrow according to the latest forecast. England will need to bowl Zimbabwe out twice in what is already a shortened game.
91st over: England 508-4 (Brook 9, Stokes 6) Glorious cover drive from Ben Stokes! That will feel good. Pitched up and smoked away to the fence.
90th over: England 503-4 (Brook 9, Stokes 1) Stokes gets off the mark with a nice clip off his toes. Some time in the middle will do him the world of good too, there was talk he might even play for the Lions in the run up to the India series in order to get some rhythm at the crease. Zimbabwe have been much better in the two overs this morning, a stat going around states that they bowled over fifty per cent of their deliveries down the leg side yesterday.
WICKET! Ollie Pope c Tsiga b Chivanga 171 (England 502-4)
Pitched up and a tiny edge! Ollie Pope goes early on day two, playing away from his body at a decent ball from Chivanga. A late review was called for but the spike was clear for all to see. Trent Bridge gives Pope a hearty ovation and then there’s a loud cheer as Ben Stokes strides out to the middle. Shades of Botham as blond whisps of mullet billow out from under Stokes’ helmet as he takes guard.
89th over: England 499-3 (Pope 170, Brook 9) Blessing Muzarabani from the Pavilion End. Pope tucks off his hip for the first run of the day. It looks like Zimbabwe are going to go short at Harry Brook – there’s been a bit of chatter about that being a potential weak spot for Brook, especially early in his innings against genuine pace.
Ooh beauty! Muzarabani pushes Brook back and then pitches fuller and the ball zips off the surface and carries through at head height to the keeper. Brook was drawn into the stroke and plays and misses. Good, probing first over from the bowler, just one run off it.
Here come the players! Harry Brook and Ollie Pope stride out in beautiful sunshine and Zimbabwe’s players gird themselves for what could be a tough morning. England know there is a bit of weather about this weekend and it is only a four day Test, they’ll throw the blade this morning at the new ball and press the game forward. Buckle up!
Its Sunny. Its Friday. My four-going-on-24-year-old daughter demanded this song three times in a row on the way to school.
Play is about five minutes away at Trent Bridge and indeed around the shires as the County Championship rumbles along. Tanya Aldred is on her way to Grace Road as we speak and is helming the CCLive blog.
And Andy Bull got his Theroux on and went for a wander around Trent Bridge:
Simon Burnton has the Crawley angle covered:
Ali’s report from Trent Bridge pleasingly alluded to The Thick of It on a day that was very much not difficult difficult lemon difficult for England.
There were shades of The Thick of It after Ben Stokes gave his press conference a day out from this one-off Test against Zimbabwe. When the minister – or in this instance the England captain – said Jacob Bethell would be straight back in for the series against India, this apparently referred to the squad and not necessarily the XI.
That Stokes sought to make this clarification through the back channels perhaps said more about the task at hand than England’s true thoughts on the subject. No captain would ever wish to send a player out believing whatever they achieved would be irrelevant, especially not a vice-captain and selfless cricketer such as Ollie Pope.”
Preamble
James Wallace
Well, that was brutal.
Hello and welcome to day two of England v Zimbabwe from Trent Bridge.
England amassed 498 runs yesterday against an increasingly beleaguered Zimbabwe bowling attack who were left a bowler light when Richard Ngarava suffered a probable back spasm and had to leave the field on a golf buggy in the afternoon session. Ben Duckett made a pretty effortless century and Zak Crawley spent some much needed time in the middle to make his first century in an England shirt since his Old Trafford magnum opus in the 2023 Ashes.
Ollie Pope then peeled off a slick century that reminded everyone of his talents but also won’t do that much to lessen the naysayers who think he can’t do it against the big boys of India and Australia. Against the former Pope averages 24 and the latter just 16.
The strawberry blond Surrey man has just been speaking to Ian Ward on Sky and seemed pretty chilled out, actually, admitting that he doesn’t listen to the noise and the notion that his place might be under threat from the wunderkind Jacob Bethell. Pope was that very same wunderkind once, but now has 55 Test matches under his belt and a role as vice captain in the Test side. A double ton here won’t hurt but a score in in the first Test against India in June will provide plenty more succour.
Play gets underway at 11am – in just under 30 minutes, as ever do drop us a line and let us know how you are shaping up this Friday morning.