England vs Zimbabwe Test Match Betting Tips
England's 2025 home Test summer begins with a one-off match against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge.
The four-day contest is the first Test meeting between the nations since 2003 and Zimbabwe are 25/1 to upset their hosts in Nottingham.
England will want to start the summer strongly as they build up to next month's Test series against India and the 2025-26 Ashes in Australia.
Team news
England have named their team for the Trent Bridge Test and Essex seamer Sam Cook will make his debut alongside Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue in the pace attack.
Ben Stokes captains a side which also features batsmen Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root and Harry Brook, wicketkeeper Jamie Smith and spinner Shoaib Bashir.
Zimbabwe fast bowler Trevor Gwandu has been ruled out due to a groin injury, with Tanaka Chivanga called up as his replacement.
All-rounder Sikandar Raza is back in the Test squad after missing this year's matches against Ireland and Bangladesh due to his T20 franchise league commitments.
Tip 1 – Josh Tongue to be top England first-innings wicket-taker @ 3/1
There will be a familiar look to England's batting unit at Trent Bridge but the four specialist bowlers named in their line-up have only 28 Test caps between them.
Injuries to Chris Woakes and Mark Wood, following the retirements of James Anderson and Stuart Broad, mean Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue and debutant Sam Cook form the pace attack against Zimbabwe.
Atkinson had a glorious start to his Test career last summer while Cook's call-up is a reward for his excellent county record for Essex.
However, they could be upstaged by the return of Tongue, who has struggled with injuries since making his England debut in the summer of 2023.
The paceman looked the part in his first two Test appearances, claiming 5-66 in the second innings of his first game against Ireland at Lord's.
Tongue also picked up five wickets at HQ in the second Ashes Test, dismissing Australia greats Steve Smith and David Warner in both innings.
He returns to the international stage at Trent Bridge, his home ground since moving from Worcestershire to Nottinghamshire at the start of last season.
The 27-year-old has bowled some terrific spells in Nottinghamshire's home County Championship matches this summer.
He took 5-66 against Durham and 5-44 against Sussex in his last two outings at Trent Bridge and could make a triumphant comeback to the England side.
Tip 2 – Tafadzwa Tsiga to be top Zimbabwe first-innings runscorer @ 11/1
Overcast conditions are forecast for Nottingham this week, which may not be encouraging news for Zimbabwe's batsmen.
They were bowled out for just 111 in last month's innings defeat to Bangladesh and were beaten by a First-Class Counties Select XI in last week's warm-up game in Leicester.
Wicketkeeper Tafadzwa Tsiga made the most of his opportunity at Grace Road, scoring 66 and 66 not out, and he is worth chancing at a big price to top-score in the first innings.
If England's pace bowlers do some damage with the new ball then middle-order veterans Sean Williams and Craig Ervine will be required to rebuild the innings alongside Tsiga.
The keeper is yet to make a big score in his first three Tests but he showed good technique and spirit in an unbeaten 24 off 83 balls against the West Indies on his debut.
Tsiga scored 64 not out and 76 in a low-scoring game between Zimbabwe A and Durham in March and he could showcase his batting talent against England.
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation