HARRY BROOK has urged England not to take it easy against the underdogs of Zimbabwe, insisting “we can’t take our eyes off the ball.”

The international season gets under way at Trent Bridge on Thursday, with England’s first Test against the southern Africans in 22 years.

Expectations of a possible mismatch were only increased over the weekend as the tourists suffered a morale-busting 138-run defeat to an inexperienced county select XI at Grace Road.