England Top Three Hit Centuries, Root Reaches 13,000 Test Runs vs Zimbabwe

England dominated the first day of their one-off Test match against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge, posting a massive 498 for three, powered by centuries from Ben Duckett (140), Zak Crawley (124), and Ollie Pope (unbeaten 169). The opening partnership between Duckett and Crawley yielded 231 runs, with Pope continuing the momentum alongside them, extending his world record by scoring centuries against eight different Test nations. Joe Root also made history by becoming the fastest player by matches played to reach 13,000 Test runs, while also being the first English player to achieve this milestone, though he was dismissed for 34. England's impressive batting performance exploited Zimbabwe's inconsistent seam bowling, with the home side maintaining a high scoring rate throughout the day. Zimbabwe's bowling attack managed to take only three wickets, with Blessing Muzarabani, Sikandar Raza, and Wesley Madhevere each claiming one. This commanding display sets England up strongly as they prepare for upcoming high-profile series, including fixtures against India and the Ashes tour in Australia.