Sam Cook, the Essex seamer, is set to make his Test debut for England against Zimbabwe on Thursday at Trent Bridge. This was confirmed by head coach Brendon McCullum, with Cook joining a pace attack that includes the returning Josh Tongue.
Cook, 27, expressed his excitement, calling it “any young cricketer’s dream to pull on the Test shirt for England.” His impressive first-class record of 321 wickets at an average of 19.85, including 227 County Championship wickets in the last five seasons, highlights his consistent performance. Despite England’s recent preference for faster or more unorthodox bowlers, Cook, a traditional wicket-to-wicket exponent, has earned his chance.
His opportunity arises following James Anderson’s Test retirement and Chris Woakes’ ongoing injury. Cook’s commitment, demonstrated by foregoing lucrative T20 franchise deals to tour Australia with England Lions this winter, where he performed well with the Kookaburra ball, further solidified his selection. He feels his experiences and time with the Lions program have prepared him for this transition.
The bowling attack will also feature Gus Atkinson, England’s standout performer from the 2024 home summer, and Shoaib Bashir as the spinner. Test captain Ben Stokes is expected to contribute with the ball after recovering from hamstring surgery. Matthew Potts and James Rew, a replacement batter, were not included in the playing XI.
McCullum acknowledged the relative inexperience of the attack but emphasized England’s desire to expand their fast-bowling options, recognizing the demands of elite-level cricket. He expressed confidence in the varied attack, highlighting their youth and familiarity with the team’s approach. McCullum’s message to the team is simple: focus on taking wickets, fulfilling their roles, pressuring the opposition, and enjoying the opportunity of representing their country.
England XI vs. Zimbabwe:
Zak Crawley
Ben Duckett
Ollie Pope
Joe Root
Harry Brook
Ben Stokes (capt)
James Smith (wk)
Gus Atkinson
Josh Tongue
Sam Cook
Shoaib Bashir
