Essex bowler Sam Cook is on the verge of making his England debut after being included in the squad for the one-off Test against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge. The 27-year-old seamer, who has been a standout performer in domestic cricket, gets his opportunity in an inexperienced bowling attack due to several injuries.

Key players like Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Brydon Carse, and Olly Stone are all sidelined, while Jofra Archer continues his recovery in the Indian Premier League (IPL). This situation has led England to field a fresh pace attack as they embark on a crucial year of Test cricket, including high-profile series against India and Australia.

Joining Cook in the squad is Nottinghamshire seamer Josh Tongue, who returns nearly two years after his last Test appearance. Gus Atkinson and Matthew Potts, with 11 and 10 caps respectively, are the other specialist seamers in the 13-man squad.

A potential combination of Atkinson, Tongue, and Cook in the playing XI on 22 May would bring together just 13 caps, marking England's least experienced pace attack at home since Zimbabwe's last Test in the country 22 years ago.

England captain Ben Stokes is fit to lead the team after recovering from hamstring surgery. The match at Trent Bridge will be his first since injuring his left leg in the final Test against New Zealand in December. However, there may be limitations on his bowling.

Uncapped Essex batter Jordan Cox returns to the squad as cover for the top order, having missed his Test debut in New Zealand due to a broken thumb. Meanwhile, opener Zak Crawley and number-three Ollie Pope have the chance to solidify their positions.

Cook, known for his accuracy and movement, has had to wait for his chance as England has been prioritizing bowlers with high pace. With 318 first-class wickets at an average below 20, Cook has proven his worth and is now competing for a spot in the first-choice XI.

England will be strong favorites against Zimbabwe, who recently drew 1-1 in Bangladesh. The five-Test series against India begins on 20 June at Headingley.