Sam Cook earns maiden England call up for Zimbabwe Test

Essex seamer Sam Cook has earned his maiden call-up to the England Test squad for the upcoming one-off match against Zimbabwe, scheduled to take place at Trent Bridge from May 22 to 25, 2025. Cook's selection comes as a reward for his consistent performances in the County Championship, where he has taken 318 wickets at an impressive average of 19.77. He also showcased his skills during the England Lions tour of Australia, claiming 13 wickets in three matches. The 27-year-old's inclusion is timely, given England's current injury concerns among their pace bowlers, with Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Brydon Carse, and Olly Stone all sidelined. Cook joins a relatively inexperienced pace attack that includes Gus Atkinson, Matthew Potts, and Josh Tongue. Cook is known for his sharp seam movement and accuracy, drawing comparisons to former South African bowler Vernon Philander. While his pace is considered medium-fast, his ability to exploit home conditions makes him a valuable asset for England's bowling lineup. The match against Zimbabwe marks their first Test in England in 22 years and serves as the opener for England's 2025 summer schedule. Captain Ben Stokes returns to the squad following hamstring surgery, although his bowling capacity remains uncertain. England Squad : Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Jordan Cox (wk), Sam Cook, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Matthew Potts, Josh Tongue