Stokes fit to captain Eng against Zimbabwe

Ben Stokes’ return as England captain is a huge plus for the team which has struggled of late in international matches. PHOTO: AFP

Ben Stokes was given the all-clear to captain England in their one-off Test against Zimbabwe later this month as he was named in a 13-man squad announced Friday.

The 33-year-old all-rounder has been recovering from hamstring surgery after breaking down in New Zealand in December, his second hamstring tear in five months.

Stokes has not featured for county side Durham so far this season but is set to skipper England in the opening Test of their home season, which is a four-day game rather than the standard five, at Trent Bridge from May 22 to 25.

England selector Luke Wright expects Stokes, a lively seamer, to play a full part with both bat and ball against Zimbabwe even though he is not due to play any competitive cricket before the Test.

"All things being equal, he's going to be fine to play a full part," Wright said.

"We might have to restrict him bowling a certain amount of overs just to be careful with him coming back but he will be at full pace.

"He's been non-stop now in the nets getting ready, he's ready and raring to go and excited about getting stuck in."

Uncapped Essex seamer Sam Cook is also in the squad and could be in line for a Test debut in Nottingham, with pacemen Mark Wood, Brydon Carse, Chris Woakes and Olly Stone all injured.

Express quick Jofra Archer is not yet considered ready for red-ball international cricket.

Batter Jacob Bethell, who impressed on England's tour of New Zealand, is currently playing in the Indian Premier League.

Nottinghamshire paceman Josh Tongue will hope to make a return to Test action on his home ground, having last featured for England during the 2023 Ashes, and could form part of a pace attack that also includes Gus Atkinson.

Off-spinner Shoaib Bashir has kept his place despite mediocre displays so far this season in the County Championship.

It will be the first Test in England since 2003 for Zimbabwe.

The African nation are bottom of the Test rankings but last week won their first Test in four years, beating Bangladesh by three wickets in Sylhet.

"With anyone, you never underestimate them," said Wright. "For them to beat Bangladesh is a great effort.

"It will be great welcoming them over here, it's been a long time. It's a great opportunity for the guys to get stuck in." AFP

Trans women banned from English women's cricket

Transgender women have been banned from playing in women's and girls' cricket in England and Wales after the governing body announced a change in policy on Friday.

The move by the England and Wales Cricket Board follows last month's UK Supreme Court ruling regarding the Equality Act.

The UK's highest court ruled the legal definition of a "woman" is based on a person's sex at birth and does not include transgender women who hold a gender recognition certificate.

The decision by cricket chiefs comes after the English and Scottish football associations announced on Thursday that transgender women would be barred from the women's game.

Trans women have been banned from the top two tiers of elite women's cricket since the start of this year but had been permitted to compete in the women's game up to and including tier three of the domestic game and throughout recreational cricket.

But the ECB has now tightened its rules.

"With immediate effect, only those whose biological sex is female will be eligible to play in women's cricket and girls' cricket matches," it said in a statement. "Transgender women and girls can continue playing in open and mixed cricket."

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