England captain Ben Stokes called the ‘Agenda’, after Zimbabwe Ton, the team partner defends Oli Pope

Ben Stokes came to Trent Bridge to protect Oli Pope in the centenary of the vice-captain against Zimbabwe that he responded to “Agenda” against Surrey batsmen. England won the opening match of their 2025 domestic season and scored 45 runs on Saturday on Saturday, a one-closed Test for four days was wrapped before tea on the third. Off-spinner Shoaib Bashir implemented the Finishing Touch in the 6-81 Test-Best Hall.

The game’s course was determined by the three top-order hundreds from Ben Docket, Zak Croly and Pope, with the biggest contributor to all declared 565–6 of the first Panchs of England in 171.

Before the arrival of the squad in Nottingham, Croly and Pope questioned their places in the team. Critics said his places would be threatened by the IPL before the five-observance series before the five-observance series coming from the IPL with the growing star Jacob Bethel.

England captain Stokes speculated, when in a pre-match press conference, he praised Bethel and said: “I think you have put two and two together and you probably know what is going to happen.”

The all -rounder has since explained his comment, stating that he was suggesting that Bethel Test would return to the squad immediately, rather than that XI.

Stokes told the BBC, “One is always living under a spotlight.” “I personally felt that it was not a little – not a vendetta – but I was asked a simple question about Bethel.

“I said, ‘Keep two and two together, it comes back to the squad’ and then suddenly it turns into something that corresponds to the agenda of that time.

“It’s unfortunate that you say something and it can be twisted. I have made the pope very clear at night before this test. It is not so. He is my vice-captain and he is incredible in number three for me and the team. I am very happy for him that he went out of there and the way he did.”

‘funny story’

Bashir was named Player of-the-Match after making a great start for the county campaign behind him in style.

England continue to show confidence in a 21 -year -old child, even though Bashir cannot hold a place from the Samraset, while a starting season in Glamorgan, Loan Spale took just two first -class wickets on an expensive expensive average of 152.

However, Bashir took nine wickets in both innings in Nottingham.

“I know this is a strange story to see, I can understand why it is one of the things where people find it difficult to believe,” said Stokes of Stokes’s unusual career path. “But in the context of those decisions we choose, who we play and what we return, we are ours to make.

Stokes said, “If he keeps performing like this week, it is expected that one day it will be understood why we choose him,” Stokes said, the youngest England bowlers are now taking 50 Test wickets with Bashir.

Saturday’s game was also notable for a stunning diving slip catches to dismiss Wesley Madhevar by the bowling of Harry Brooke of Stokes.

It bored Stokes’ superlative Trent Bridge attempts a decade ago when a stunning part of 8–15 was formed in Stuart Broad’s 8–15 stukening triumph of Stupert Broad’s 8–15 stunning triumps.

Stokes, now instead of retired broad, the bowlers were looking at this time this time, the all-rounder said that his former team partner told him after stumps on Saturday, how he had experienced “the same feeling” in 2015.

“They (wider) thought it was going for four, and then I caught it. And then I thought it was going for four, and then Brook’s hand just came out from somewhere and hanging on it … it was a seriously, seriously impressive grip.”

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