England rack up century hat-trick on opening day

ENGLAND'S top three helped themselves to a hat-trick of centuries as they dominated the first day of the Test summer, racking up 498 for three against an outmatched Zimbabwe.

- By RORY DOLLARD

The first meeting between the nations in 22 years looked like a mismatch on paper, the tourists having lost heavily to an inexperienced county XI last week, and the hosts lived up to lofty expectations at Trent Bridge.

Ben Duckett hit a typically feisty 140, Zak Crawley put a lean winter behind him with 124 and vice-captain Ollie Pope trumped them both as he sprinted to an unbeaten 169 in the evening session. In doing so they set a new record for runs on the first day of a Test in England, eclipsing the 475 scored by Donald Bradman's Australia in 1934.

While Duckett's spot at the top of the order is secure, both Crawley and Pope have faced questions over their positions, with Jacob Bethell tipped to return for next month's series against India once he returns from his time with Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

Captain Ben Stokes gave the 21-year-old a ringing endorsement on the eve of the match but it is understood a definitive pecking order has yet to be decid ed.