Zimbabwe showed glimpses of promise in a drought-breaking Test match against England, underlining cricket's need to flourish beyond its power countries.

The one-off Test at Trent Bridge marked England's first red-ball match since their tour of New Zealand in December. Shoaib Bashir starred as England wrapped up a comfortable innings and 45-run win, taking six wickets in the second innings to bowl Zimbabwe out for 255 after England enforced the follow-on.

Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine said there was no better place to "test yourself as a cricketer" as he called for his side to be given more international fixtures in England.

Zimbabwe has folded inside three days as expected yet made England sweat for its innings win in their one-off cricket test in Nottingham

Shoaib Bashir's six-wicket haul breaks Zimbabwe's feisty resistance and leads England to victory by an innings and 45 runs inside three days of the one-off Test.

England comprehensively beat Zimbabwe with spinner Shoaib Bashir taking six wickets in the second innings and nine in the match; he became the youngest player to claim 50 Test wickets for his country;

For England, the cricket test against Zimbabwe in Nottingham this week is little more than a warm-up match ahead of much sterner examinations to come.

Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani has said the team's ongoing Test against England is a "defining moment" that "underscores the importance of inclusive participation in the game's most revered format.