A fit and firing Ben Stokes gave a glimpse of what the Aussies and India hope they don’t have to see on day two at Trent Bridge against Zimbabwe.
With Zimbabwe’s batters finding the Nottingham track to their liking in much the same way England did on day one, Stokes (2/11) brought himself on and blasted a hole in their middle order, taking two wickets in three overs.
The captain was only bowling because off-spinner Shoaib Bashir (3/62) had picked up a minor finger injury.
But if England fans cheered the return of their talismanic skipper, the bowling display from Bashir also contained huge positives.
The 21-year-old took three wickets, including two pearlers, the first of which saw the left-handed Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine (42) caught at slip from one that turned off the square and the second an off-spinner’s dream as he got one to spin sharply through the gate to dismiss the last recognised batter Tafadzwa Tsiga (22).
The other story of the day was the fastest century (97 balls) by a Zimbabwean and the highest score away from home from 21-year-old Brian Bennett (139).
Hitting his third successive boundary from the expensive Gus Atkinson to reach three figures it led to emotional scenes on the field of play, from supporters of both teams and in the talkSPORT commentary box where former Zimbabwe International Ed Rainsford was close to tears.
Earlier England had declared on 565/6 with Blessing Muzarabani (3/143) finishing as the pick of the bowlers.
It meant Sam Cook (1/72) opened the bowling for England for the first time just before midday and he didn’t have long to wait for his maiden Test wicket with Ben Curran (6), brother of England Internationals Sam and Tom, edging to Harry Brook in the slip cordon.
Despite this, Zimbabwe went to lunch having enjoyed their best session of the Test but by this point the horse hadn’t just bolted it had moved to the shires and started a family.
Josh Tongue (1/56) – playing his first Test since 2023 – thought he had Brian Bennett brilliantly caught one-handed by a diving Ollie Pope at short leg only to have overstepped.
He had his man the very next over though with Pope taking a far simpler catch.
Atkinson wrapped the innings up (265ao) and with 50 minutes left in the day Stokes enforced the follow on and Atkinson picked up where he left off. First by trapping the first innings centurion Bennett (1) LBW before Tongue removed Ervine (2).
Zimbabwe ended the day 30/2 and still 271 away from making England bat again.
With bad weather forecast overnight and possibly throughout the day, England will hold out hope of an early finish and potentially a bonus day on the golf course on Sunday.
If they do it will be well deserved.
Overseas cricket fans can listen to live commentary of every England Test this summer by tuning into the talkSPORT Cricket YouTube Channel. The Following On Podcast hosted by Jon Norman and Steve Harmison will also be available shortly after the close of play.
