TRENT BRIDGE — Despite all the conjecture about selection at the start of a potentially era-defining year for England, Ben Stokes needed just 20 deliveries to demonstrate why keeping him fit to operate as a genuine all-rounder will be the most important factor when it comes to the twin challenges of taking on India and Australia.
This one-off Test against Zimbabwe, which is hurtling towards a swift conclusion after England enforced the follow-on on day two in Nottingham, is a mere hors d’oeuvre.
Ben Stokes, what a delivery pic.twitter.com/FcudJ9UPKy
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) May 23, 2025The first, starting against India next month, will be tough.
Plenty of variables will be at play before the Ashes begin in six months’ time – from how to get Jacob Bethell into the team, to whether fast bowlers Mark Wood and Jofra Archer will be fit enough to get on the plane Down Under.
This Test is his first competitive cricket in five months.
England bowl Zimbabwe out for 265 to take a 300-run lead, and Ben Stokes has enforced the follow-on pic.twitter.com/lraHs4IG6f
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) May 23, 2025Yet remarkably it took Stokes just four deliveries with the ball to show why, regardless of anything else, keeping him fit to bowl will probably hold the key to whatever success England have this year.
His first delivery was a no-ball. But the next, his first legal delivery, reared up off the pitch and took the edge of Brian Bennett’s bat before Joe Root spilled a regulation catch at first slip.
But Stokes needed just two balls of his first full over to strike with a delivery that swung and found enough bounce to leave Sikandar Raza a contorted figure by the time he had edged behind to wicketkeeper Jamie Smith.
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It was supreme skill from England’s captain, who at this point had figures of 2 for 3 after 2.2 overs.
Many people were wondering whether Stokes would be able to bowl again when he tore his hamstring during the third Test against New Zealand in Hamilton last December.
This was only Zimbabwe. But it was also a reminder of just how effective Stokes has been with the ball at key moments during his career.
There were notable performances from others on this second day, including Bashir, the erratic off-spinner taking three wickets.
England’s Sam Cook celebrates the wicket of Zimbabwe batsman Ben Curran (Photo: PA)
Golden ball
Shoaib bags a wicket
Gordon Bennett!
Big Ben strikes…again
Inside his first four legal deliveries, Stokes had Bennett dropped and Sikandar Raza caught behind. He then bowled the hapless Wessly Madhevere for a 10-ball duck to reduce Zimbabwe to 199 for 5 just before tea. All this in his first competitive game for five months.
Stat of the day
Aged 21 years and seven months, Bashir is the youngest England bowler to reach 50 wickets – beating Steven Finn who was 22 and 60 days.Former England spinner Phil Tufnell on BBC Test Match Special
Bazball-o-meter: 7/10
Another solid day for Bazball (Graphic: The i Paper)It was hard going for much of the day for England’s bowlers but after smashing 67 runs off 8.3 overs first thing they took 11 wickets on the day after enforcing the follow-on.
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