England v Zimbabwe first Test: Prediction, free tips and bet builder for Trent Bridge clash
Ben Stokes
England play their first Test of the summer on Thursday at Trent Bridge against Zimbabwe. Can we find you some winnings tips for May 22?
England certainly know how to welcome in a summer of cricket with a big bang don't they...erm playing a one-off Test with Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge.
It's also a four-day Test with rain expected, be still my beating heart.
Yes, yes it's good preparation for the summer series with India in late June and a chance for the England bigwigs to cast their eyes over some of the newer faces in the squad.
England haven't played Zimbabwe with the red ball since 2003, so we can chuck the head-to-head data out of the window.
England should comfortably win this match, but there's no value to be had in the match winner market. Rain is forecast over the weekend, it is a Bank Holiday after all, so that throws up whether there will be enough time for a result.
An innings win for England could catch the eye if the weather behaves itself. Last time out Zimbabwe were beaten by Bangladesh by an innings. They've also had innings defeats in four from five matches against the top-eight teams.
England opener Zak Crawley needs a big score here after averaging a feeble 8 in the New Zealand series. His last ton came against Australia in 2023 and he'll need to hit those heights against Zimbabwe if he's going to keep his place against India.
Crawley is a big price 7/1 to be the top England batsman and with three half-centuries in county cricket that might be worth a few quid.
His opening partner Ben Duckett is playing at his home ground and hit two fifties against the West Indies last season, and could be good for another one here.
If Crawley and Duckett get going early against the Zimbabwe attack, England to hit a boundary in the each of the first three overs also appeals.
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For Zimbabwe betting stick with the bowlers, as their batting could be shattered very quickly.
Blessing Muzarabani is the main man and has played in the UK for Northamptonshire, so knows the conditions.
He has 51 wickets from 12 Tests and took nine wickets against Bangladesh last month. Put him down for top away bowler.
England v Zimbabwe tips:
Zak Crawley top England batsman
England to hit a boundary in the each of the first three overs
Blessing Muzarabani top Zimbabwe bowler
Good luck and please gamble responsibly.
(All odds are correct at time of article publication)
READ MORE: What is a bet builder? A simple guide to how bet builders work
READ MORE: What is an accumulator or acca bet?
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