The Zimbabwe cricket team toured England in May 2025 to play the England cricket team.[1] The tour consisted of a four-day Test match.[2] In August 2023, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced the schedule for the Test match.[3] The venue was confirmed as Trent Bridge on 22 August 2024.[4]
It was the first Test match between the two teams since 2003,[5] and only the second four-day Test match played by Zimbabwe.[6] The tour also marked the first bilateral series between the two sides in any format since 2004.[7] This was also the first match between the two teams since 2007.[8]
On 26 July 2024, ECB chief executive Richard Gould announced that they would be offering Zimbabwe Cricket a touring fee of £150,000 for the one off test. The move was touted as a way to keep test cricket healthy in smaller nations. Zimbabwe Cricket became the first board in the modern era to be paid a “touring fee” by the host board in bilateral cricket.[9][10]
Squads
 England[11]
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 Zimbabwe[12]
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On 8 May, Jordan Cox was ruled out of the one-off Test match due to an abdominal muscle injury, with James Rew named as his replacement.[13]
On 16 May, Trevor Gwandu was ruled out of the match due to a left groin strain during a training session, with Tanaka Chivanga named as his replacement.[14]
Tour match
15–18 May 2025
Scorecard |
County Club Select XI
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v
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Zimbabweans |
- County Club Select XI won the toss and elected to bat.
Only Test
22–24 May 2025
Scorecard |
v
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- Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to field.
- Sam Cook (Eng) made his Test debut.
- Zak Crawley (Eng) completed 3,000 runs in Tests.[15]
- Joe Root (Eng) completed 13,000 runs in Tests.[16]
- Shoaib Bashir became the youngest England spin bowler to take 50 wickets in Tests.[17]
- Brian Bennett scored the fastest century for Zimbabwe in Tests (off 97 balls).[18]
References
- ^ “England to host Zimbabwe in 2025”. The Cricketer. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
- ^ “England to host Zimbabwe in one-off Test in 2025”. BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
- ^ “ECB confirms schedule for England vs Zimbabwe Test match”. BOL Network. 15 August 2023. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
- ^ “England Men and Women 2025 summer international fixtures revealed”. ECB. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
- ^ “England to host Zimbabwe in 2025 for first men’s Test since 2003 between two sides”. Sky Sports. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
- ^ “England to host Zimbabwe for one-off four-day Test in May 2025”. ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
- ^ “England to host Zimbabwe for first time since 2003 and plan Lord’s invitation”. The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
- ^ “England to host India Men and Women tours in 2025”. ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
- ^ “Zimbabwe to receive touring fee from ECB for 2025 visit”. ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
- ^ Atherton, Mike (21 May 2025). “England enter huge era in good health and looking to reconnect with fans”. www.thetimes.com. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
- ^ “England Men announce squad for Zimbabwe Test Match”. ECB. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
- ^ “Zimbabwe announce Test squad for historic England clash”. Zimbabwe Cricket. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
- ^ “James Rew called up to England Men’s Test squad”. ECB. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
- ^ “Chivanga replaces injured Gwandu in Zimbabwe Test squad”. Zimbabwe Cricket. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
- ^ “Top three batters hit test centuries as England reaches 498-3 against Zimbabwe”. Fox Sports. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
- ^ “England vs Zimbabwe: Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope and Ben Duckett score centuries as hosts dominate day one at Trent Bridge”. Sky Sports. 22 May 2025. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
- ^ “Youngest spinners to 50 Test wickets: England bowler breaks 56-year national record”. Wisden. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
- ^ Shemilt, Stephan (23 May 2025). “England vs Zimbabwe: Ben Stokes and Brian Bennett shine at Trent Bridge”. BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 May 2025.