England unveil squad for Zimbabwe Test ahead of blockbuster home summer of cricket

Among other notable inclusions in the 13-member squad are two uncapped players in Test cricket, Sam Cook and Jordan Cox, both of whom represent Essex in the County Championship.

Right-arm pacer Sam Cook has been rewarded for his consistent displays at the domestic level, having fetched 318 first-class wickets, averaging an impressive 19.77.

Cook also stood out with the ball for the England Lions on their tour of Australia earlier this year, snapping 13 wickets from three matches.

Twenty-four-year-old Jordan Cox, on the other hand, has been among the top run-scorers at the County Championship this season, amassing 918 runs from 11 matches that include four centuries and two half-centuries.

Also making a return in the Test setup is wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith, who had opted out of England's tour of New Zealand for the birth of his first child.

Pacer Josh Tongue is also set for a comeback to the red-ball setup, having last featured in the Ashes Down Under back in 2023.

WATCH: Jos Buttler steps down as England's white-ball captain | Champions Trophy 2025

Click here to read article