Sam Cook in line for England debut after being named in squad for Zimbabwe Test

Essex bowler Sam Cook is in line for an England debut after being named in the squad for the one-off Test against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge.

The 27-year-old, the outstanding seamer in domestic cricket in recent seasons, gets his chance in an inexperienced attack missing a number of players through injuries.

Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Brydon Carse and Olly Stone are all absent, while Jofra Archer continues his long route back to red-ball cricket at the Indian Premier League (IPL).

It means England begin a defining year of Test cricket, including marquee series against India and Australia, with a fresh-looking pace attack.

Along with Cook, Nottinghamshire seamer Josh Tongue returns almost two years after winning the last of his two caps.

Gus Atkinson, who has 11 caps, and Matthew Potts (10) are the other specialist seamers in the 13-man party.

A likely combination of Atkinson, Tongue and Cook in the XI on 22 May would have 13 caps between them, England's fewest in the pace attack at home since Zimbabwe's last Test in this country 22 years ago.

England have played only one home Test without at least one of Woakes, James Anderson or Stuart Broad in their XI since 2007.

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