England’s trio of tons demolishes Zimbabwe as records tumble at Trent Bridge.

Under grey skies at Trent Bridge, Zimbabwe won the toss and bowled. By the end of the day, they were chasing shadows. England’s top three – Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, and Ollie Pope – tore through a hapless bowling attack, amassing a staggering 498-3 by stumps, the highest first-day total in a home Test in English cricket history.

All three batsmen had points to prove. Crawley and Pope, under scrutiny ahead of Jacob Bethell’s potential return for the India series, responded with emphatic hundreds. Duckett, ever aggressive, set the tone with a blistering 140, his fourth Test ton.

Crawley, back to his fluent best, crafted 124 – his first Test century in nearly two years. He and Duckett put on 231 for the first wicket, England’s highest home opening stand since 1960. When Duckett eventually fell, Pope took the baton and never looked back.

Still at the crease on 169 not out, Pope looked imperious, dispatching Zimbabwe’s weary attack to all corners. Every flick, drive and pull exuded confidence, the innings perhaps his most complete yet in an England shirt. Together, the trio left Zimbabwe deflated and England in complete control.

Zimbabwe’s decision to bowl first raised eyebrows, especially under threatening clouds. Initially, the conditions offered a hint of movement, but the pitch proved true and the clouds cleared by midday. England’s openers quickly seized the advantage.

Zimbabwe’s day worsened when spearhead Richard Ngarava pulled up with a back injury just after lunch. With their most experienced seamer sidelined, Zimbabwe’s bowling options dwindled, and England punished every shortfall. No bowler escaped punishment; the lines were wayward, the lengths too full or too short, and the fielding uninspired.

Though Duckett was the most aggressive, scoring at a rapid clip and bringing up his century with a flourish, Crawley played with composed authority. His driving was crisp, and his shot selection showed restraint. When he raised his bat, relief mingled with satisfaction – a timely reminder of his pedigree.

Pope, meanwhile, was elegance personified. Coming in after Crawley’s dismissal, he picked up the tempo and pressed England further into the ascendancy. His partnership with Joe Root, who remains unbeaten on 41, added an unbroken 115 to England’s already mountainous total.

England’s dominance was so absolute that by the close of play, talk had shifted to whether they could force an innings victory. With just four days to play, and Zimbabwe set to face the new ball under pressure on day two, England may not need to bat again.

For England, this match was supposed to offer fringe players a chance to stake a claim ahead of tougher tests. Crawley and Pope did just that, adding weight to their selection cases at a critical moment. With the India series looming, the selectors now have a different kind of headache.

Zimbabwe, meanwhile, will need resilience to avoid a three-day defeat. They were thoroughly outclassed, and with Ngarava potentially sidelined, their uphill battle looks steeper still.

At Trent Bridge, records fell, careers were revived, and England sent a clear message – they may be experimenting, but they’re not taking their foot off the pedal.