The China Mail - Duckett and Crawley lead England run-spree against Zimbabwe

At tea, England were in a commanding position of 295 for one following their first three-figure opening partnership since Duckett and Crawley put on 109 against Ireland at Lord's in 2023.

Zimbabwe did dismiss Duckett for 140 -- only the 30-year-old's fifth century in 33 Tests and first at Trent Bridge, the Nottinghamshire left-hander's home ground.

But Crawley was still there on 93 not out, having managed just 212 runs in his previous eight Tests at an average of 15.14, with the Kent batsman's first-innings scores in the County Championship so far this season 1, 0, 1 and 6.

Ollie Pope kept the runs coming at Trent Bridge with an unbeaten 49 off 46 balls.

Zimbabwe's task was made all the more difficult when they lost one of their four-man pace attack shortly after lunch.

Richard Ngarava, arguably the pick of the bowlers with a return of none for 42 in nine overs, pulled up clutching his back and hamstrings after chasing a ball in the field before being taken off in a medical cart.

Not even the introduction of spinner Sikandar Raza in the first over after lunch could staunch the flow of runs.

- Duckett century -

England started the second session already on 130 without loss off 26 overs -- a run-rate of exactly five an over.

Duckett was 75 not out and Crawley 53 not out.

It was not long before the aggressive Duckett completed a hundred off exactly 100 balls, including 15 fours.

And having got to three figures, he hit the first six of the match when pulling an inviting Tanaka Chivanga delivery.

Duckett, however, exited in familiar fashion.

Having thrashed spinner Wessly Madhevere's first ball through the covers for four and pulled the second, a rank long-hop for six, Duckett tamely chipped the third to Ben Curran at cover to end a blistering innings.

Duckett walked off to the Radcliffe Road End -- the Pavilion, surrounded by scaffolding and sheathed in covers, is being renovated -- with England 231 for one in the 42nd over.

Earlier, Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine, in his side's first Test in England in 22 years, won the toss in overcast conditions.

He opted to bowl in the hope his attack could utilise the cloud cover above Trent Bridge, a ground renowned for aiding swing and seam bowlers.

Ervine's decision to field was all the more understandable given Zimbabwe's 138-run thrashing by a youthful County Select XI in their lone warm-up match last week.

But while his attack got the occasional ball to deviate sharply under grey skies and on a green-tinged pitch, they too often invited boundaries by over-pitching or bowling too short.

The closest Zimbabwe came to an early breakthrough was when Crawley, on 10, chipped a drive just past the outstretched hand of new-ball bowler Blessing Muzarabani.

England captain Ben Stokes is making a comeback to cricket this week after the all-rounder's lengthy rehabilitation from his latest hamstring tear.

This match also acts as a warm-up for England's upcoming five-Test series at home to India before they head to Australia for the Ashes later this year.

F.Jackson--ThChM