England vs Zimbabwe: Visiting openers could exceed expectations
England take on Zimbabwe in a four-day Test match at Trent Bridge, and Ben Stokes's men are expected to make a strong start to the international summer.
Tougher challenges await England, who have a five-match home series against India in the summer before they head to Australia for this winter's Ashes.
England have not faced Zimbabwe in Test cricket for almost 22 years, and the tourists are 24/1 to claim a shock victory when the one-off contest starts in Nottingham on Thursday.
New-look England attack may take time to strike
There is a fresh look to England's attack as Sam Cook, who has taken 321 first-class wickets for Essex at an average of 19.85, will make his Test debut on Thursday.
Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue and spinner Shoaib Bashir complete an inexperienced bowling unit, although skipper Stokes is fully fit and hoping to play more of a role with the ball.
The match betting suggests that Zimbabwe are likely to be outclassed, but their openers, Brian Bennett and Ben Curran, can put on a first-innings stand of at least 18.
Curran, whose brothers Tom and Sam have both played for England, has plenty of experience of English conditions, and Bennett scored 65 and 17 in last week's warm-up game in Leicester.
The openers shared partnerships of 69 and 95 in April's victory in Bangladesh, and both should be confident coming into this match.
The 21-year-old Bennett scored a maiden Test century in only his third innings against Afghanistan just after Christmas, while Curran made 147 and 105 not out for his domestic team Southerns at the start of last month.
Bet Selection: Zimbabwe to have first-innings opening partnership of over 17.5 @ 10/11
Pope primed to cash in at Trent Bridge
Ollie Pope's Test career has been a case of feast or famine, as epitomised by his series in India at the start of 2024.
He scored a sensational second-innings 196 in the first Test in Hyderabad but mustered only 119 runs in his other nine innings.
Pope is worth backing at a big price to top-score in England's first innings at Trent Bridge, where he made 145 against New Zealand in 2022 and 121 against the West Indies last summer.
He started the 2023 Test summer in style with a classy double-century against Ireland and could punish Zimbabwe's bowlers at one of his favourite venues.
Bet Selection: Ollie Pope to be top England first-innings runscorer @ 6/1
Zimbabwe veteran still at the peak of his powers
The 39-year-old Craig Ervine will captain Zimbabwe against England and his fellow veteran Sean Williams also has a key role to play in the middle-order.
Williams, who is 38, has made five centuries in just 19 Test appearances and his most recent ton was a career-best 154 against Afghanistan in December.
His three subsequent first-innings Test scores were 49 against the Afghans and 59 and 67 against Bangladesh, and he merits a bet to reach 50 at Trent Bridge.
The left-hander warmed up for the clash with England by scoring 76 against the First-Class Counties Select XI at Grace Road, and he has the potential to frustrate the home bowlers in Nottingham.
Bet Selection: Sean Williams to score a first-innings half-century @ 3/1
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation