Pope, Crawley and Duckett centuries flatten Zimbabwe

Trent Bridge, the first of four days, is the only test.

England 498-3: Pope 169*, Duckett 140, Crawley 124

Zimbabwe: yet to bat

Zimbabwe won the choice to field and the toss.

Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley joined Ben Duckett in establishing centuries of total dominance over Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge as the two faced mounting pressure on their positions.

If Jacob Bethell makes a comeback for the series against India later in the summer, opener Crawley and number three Pope will be most vulnerable.

However, the selectors had to make a decision as England scored 498-3 on the opening day of the one-off Test, which is the highest total runs scored on a test day in this country.

With Crawley, England’s highest opening partnership in a home test since 1960, Duckett led the way with 140, adding 231 for the first wicket.

Pope completed the triumvirate with a majestic unbeaten score of 169, followed by Crawley with his first Test century in almost two years, 124.

All this after Zimbabwe won the choice to field and the toss. under a leaden sky. When the clouds parted, England cashed in on a pristine batting surface.

After lunch, Zimbabwe’s opening bowler Richard Ngarava suffered a back injury, but this was a mismatch.

With series matches against India and Australia in hand, England had just begun a pivotal year in test cricket. A sedate and one-sided opening day in Nottingham will be far more challenging and intense than those encounters.

Zimbabwe haven’t played a Test since 1992. With 11 matches in 2025, they are regaining their status as a test nation. Although the name was being tested, there was no contest.

After Bethell impressed in New Zealand over the winter, intrigue surrounded the conundrum at the top of the order in England.

Ben Stokes, England captain on Wednesday, said: “Put two and two together, you probably know what’s going to happen.” The 21-year-old is currently out of action in the Indian Premier League.

Later, it was clarified that Stokes was referring to Bethell returning immediately to the England squad rather than the XI.

Crawley and Pope would have known that their positions were in jeopardy and needed to do more to support their cause.

Zimbabwe made the right choice to add the home team in the heavy sky. Stokes claimed he would have done the same.

However, it was a run-scoring procession after Duckett hit left-armer Ngarava through the covers for four in the opener.

Blessing Muzarabani, a imposing seamer, was unable to exert any pressure on Zimbabwe. England scored well above five overs without breaking a sweat as a result of a slew of loose deliveries.

When the tourists drifted onto his pads, Duckett was the aggressor, whipping into the leg side.

After a terrible tour of New Zealand just before Christmas, Crawley turned his attention to handsome cover drives when Zimbabwe overpitched.

The fifth Test century for left-hander Duckett was the product of exactly 100 deliveries. When he slammed the same bowler to short cover, he had just hoiked off-spinner Wesley Madhevere for his second six.

Pope took his first 20 balls of a Test innings and hit his stride, taking 31 runs, which is the most he has ever taken.

It was Crawley’s first Test century since the all-time great 189 against Australia in the fourth Ashes Test of 2023, when he reached three. Sikandar Raza, lbw sweeping spinner, and Crawley, who had a hip problem, shared the second-wicket partnership’s 137.

Pope frequently used cuts and obscene deflections over the slips along the off-side boundary. His eighth Test hundred was scored against an eighth different opponent. He has only ever managed to score three points against Australia.

When he increased to 33 and then relegated Muzarabani to long leg, Joe Root became the fifth batter to do so. Pope continued to push against the second new ball, with Victor Nyauchi’s outstanding catch over a fine leg for six as the highlight.

There is a gap between the bat and the ball because he plays poorly when he plays out in front of himself. He no longer exerts as much control over his drives as he did today.

Ollie Pope impressed me in part because of reports that Ben Stokes has stated that Jacob Bethell will return. The Pope could read any errors that were made in his or her quote.

One of Pope’s biggest complaints, especially for the first 20 balls, is how skittish he can be. I believed that the attack was what caused him to appear in control.