Ben Stokes’ participation in first Test against
Ben Stokes’ participation in first Test against. England captain Ben Stokes stays under treatment for a hamstring injury and would be doubtful for the initial Test against Pakistan, starting in Multan on Monday (October 7).
Stokes has been out since early August and missed England’s 2-1 Test series win over Sri Lanka, with Ollie Pope leading the team to victory. However, the test captain of England trained with the team in Multan on Friday, taking part in batting and bowling during the net session.
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The all-rounder had claimed last week
The all-rounder had claimed last week that he was unlikely to bowl at the start of the three-Test series. Opener Zak Crawley told BBC Sport that his captain seems to be doing well and recovering from his injury. “That remains to be seen. I think he still needs to do some Tests but he’s been getting some runs in and out,” the England opener added.
But if Stokes is fit enough to catch and bat but not bowl, then England will have to decide how to balance their team against Pakistan.
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As mentioned above
As mentioned above, Stokes was not used against Sri Lanka and have bolstered their eleven since then by adding five other bowlers to the side. They would have to make one of their top-order batsman play no part for the playing eleven on Monday if they choose to do the same.
England can do without the loss
England can do without the loss of any of their better batsmen by letting Pope keep wickets for them as Jamie Smith keeps wickets for the team regularly. They can then continue with four bowlers, while Joe Root strengthens the side with his right-handed off-break spin bowling.
It would also prove manageable for England to give Stokes a complete break. Pope would be leading the side in the following match while Smith continues to keep the wicket and six bats, creating an open space for five bowlers.
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England opening batsman Crawley
England opening batsman Crawley said there were “shades of green” in Multan’s pitches so presumably may require a three-seamer and two spinners in their playing XI.
For Crawley himself, The batsman returns after more Than two months out with a broken finger. He sustained the injury while Trying to catch a ball while slip-fielding against The West Indies. England had comfortably won The series 3-0 at Edgbaston in July.
This is good news for cricket viewers as Pakistan’s first private sports channel Geo Super is all set to broadcast live all three matches of the Pakistan vs England Test series.
Quader:
Pakistan: Abdullah Shafiq, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hurairah, Saim Ayub, Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood (c), Aamir Jamal, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Abrar Ahmed, Mir Hamza, Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Shaheen Afridi.
England
England: Harry Brook, Joe Root, Ollie Pope, Zak Crawley, Ben Stokes (captain), Chris Woakes, Reehan Ahmed, Ben Duckett (weekend), Jamie Smith (weekend), Jordan Cox (weekend), Brydon Kearse, Gus Atkinson, Jack Leach, Matthew Potts, Ollie Stone, Shoaib Bashir.
Pakistan-England Test series time-table:
First Test: 7-11 October, Multan.
Second Test: 15-19 October, Multan.
Third Test: 24-28 October, Rawalpindi.