England Scores Three Centuries in Record Test Day vs Zimbabwe

England's top three batsmen dominated the first day of the Test summer against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge, setting a new record for the highest first-day total in a Test match in England with 498 for three. Ben Duckett led with a swift 140, followed by Zak Crawley, who scored 124, and vice-captain Ollie Pope, who outshone both with an unbeaten 169, marking his eighth Test century. Pope set a unique world record by scoring his first eight Test hundreds against eight different countries, placing him alongside some of England's cricketing legends at the No. 3 position. Despite Zimbabwe's weakened bowling attack due to injury, the English batsmen maintained a high run rate and showcased strong performances, raising questions about the stability of the top order with the anticipated return of Jacob Bethell. Captain Ben Stokes highlighted the competitive nature of team selection but appeared content watching Pope's class and the overall batting dominance. The remarkable innings from England's top order underscores their strong start to the Test summer, though the durability of their positions remains to be tested in upcoming series.