Week's silent triumphs for Pope: Assessing England's Test prospects after the latest County Championship matches.
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Get a glimpse into the current form of England's Test hopefuls as the 2025 County Championship season kicks into gear.
Ben Duckett - 59* (31)
With a whirlwind 31-ball unbeaten 59, Duckett shone brightly at his county home for Nottinghamshire against Sussex. Despite a quick dismissal in the first innings, Duckett led the hosts to an emphatic nine-wicket victory.
Josh Tongue - 5-44
Tongue's set of figures, 5-44, played a crucial role in Nottinghamshire's victory. His bowling skills have already caught the eye of the England selectors, and an injury-ridden fast bowling department means Tongue is well-positioned to play the opening Test against Zimbabwe in May.
Ollie Robinson - 4-94
Robinson's 4-wicket haul, including the key dismissals of Haseeb Hameed and Ben Duckett, helped Sussex restrict Nottinghamshire to 300 in the first innings. However, a recall remains unlikely.
Tom Banton - 26 & 3
Unfortunately, another two failures for Banton. The 26-year-old had only managed 40 runs across five innings since his triple century at Taunton.
Jack Leach - 1-46
Leach managed a decent return of 1-46 wickets despite Somerset's heavy defeat at The Oval. His dismissal of the in-form Dom Sibley for 53 was a highlight.
Ollie Pope - 1 & 1
A tough outing for Pope, who was dismissed cheaply in both innings. An IPL stint may have saved him his Test spot at No.3 against Zimbabwe.
Also read: Crawley and Pope, England's once promising batsmen, must prove they're still the bets to back
Jamie Smith - 58 & 12*
Smith's 58 and a decisive 12 not out was instrumental in securing Surrey's first win of the season.
Dan Lawrence - 55, 1-15 & 1-9
Lawrence's all-round performance was inspiring, despite bowling only nine overs across the game. He scored a fast-paced 55 not out and picked up two crucial wickets.
Gus Atkinson - 2-73 & 0-36
Atkinson had a quiet game against Sussex but will be buoyed by his dismissal of Archie Vaughan and James Rew.
Ben McKinney - 24 & 34
Despite a quickfire 24, McKinney failed to secure Durham's first win of the season. McKinney, an upcoming batter for Durham, is regarded as one to watch.
Ollie Robinson - 0 & 22*
An unbeaten 22 might not seem impressive, but it played a decisive role in securing a low-scoring win for Sussex.
Rehan Ahmed - 6
After a hundred opening the batting against Lancashire last week, Rehan moved down a spot to No.3, scoring just 6 runs. Ahmed is still searching for his impact with the ball.
Josh Hull - 1-60 & 2-37
Hull struggled with his economy rate, yet showed promise throughout the match. The young left-armer managed to dismiss Australia all-rounder Cameron Green and two lower-order batsmen.
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Perfecting England's Test Team
The 2025 County Championship season has offered mixed fortunes for players gunning for Test berths. Some have shown glimpses of promise, while others need to step up their performances to solidify their positions in the England Test squad. As the season progresses, keep a keen eye on these young talents as they strive to establish themselves as regular faces in the Test team.
- The highlight of Ben Duckett's performance for Nottinghamshire against Sussex was his whirlwind 31-ball unbeaten 59, contributing significantly to their emphatic nine-wicket victory.
- Wicket-taker Josh Tongue's impressive 5-44 figures have drawn attention from the England selectors, placing him in a favorable position to play the opening Test against Zimbabwe, especially considering the injury-plagued fast bowling department.
- In cricket news, an upcoming batter for Durham, Ben McKinney, scored a quickfire 24 but failed to secure Durham's first win of the season, showcasing potential as a player to watch in the English Test squad.
