England confirm Zimbabwe line-up including Test debut and Josh Tongue return

Essex bowler Sam Cook received a long-awaited call-up after several years as one of county cricket’s most reliable wicket-takers

(PA Wire)

Sam Cook will make his England debut in this week's Test against Zimbabwe, with fellow seamer Josh Tongue returning to the side for the first time in two years.

Essex bowler Cook received a long-awaited call-up after several years as one of county cricket's most reliable wicket-takers and has now been confirmed in the XI that will line up at Trent Bridge on Thursday.

Tongue, who impressed with a spirited Ashes performance at Lord's in 2023 but missed the whole of last season with a pectoral injury, has also been picked in a new-look attack fronted by Gus Atkinson.

That means no place for Durham's Matthew Potts, who sits out alongside the uncapped James Rew.

Shoaib Bashir retains his spot as spinner despite taking just two wickets in a low-key loan spell at Glamorgan, while fit-again captain Ben Stokes is expected to offer some overs after a lengthy rehabilitation period from his latest hamstring tear.

Essex’s Sam Cook catches out Surrey’s Dom Sibley (Steven Paston/PA)

England XI vs Zimbabwe

Crawley, Duckett, Pope, Root, Brook, Stokes (c), Smith (wk), Atkinson, Tongue, Cook, Bashir