England Hosts Zimbabwe First Test Match in 22 Years at Trent Bridge

England and Zimbabwe will face off in a rare four-day Test match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, marking their first Test encounter in 22 years and Zimbabwe's return to English soil after a long absence from Test cricket due to political interference and sanctions. While England views this match as a warm-up for a challenging summer ahead, including a five-Test series against India and the Ashes in Australia, Zimbabwe considers it a significant opportunity to re-establish themselves internationally. Zimbabwe has been gradually reintegrating into Test cricket, playing 10 Tests since late 2024, though they are not part of the World Test Championship yet. England’s squad, led by Ben Stokes and featuring Joe Root and Harry Brook, aims to fine-tune their performance, while Zimbabwe, led by Craig Ervine, looks to build on promising individual performances despite recent defeats. The match will be broadcast live on Star Sports Network and streamed online via Jio TV and Fancode for viewers in India. This fixture underscores the ECB's commitment to maintaining strong bilateral cricket relations and supporting the development of emerging teams like Zimbabwe.