England cricket captain Ben Stokes is a doubt for the first Test against Pakistan in Multan as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury, leaving England with crucial selection decisions. Stokes, who has been out of action since August, missed the recent 2-1 series victory over Sri Lanka and remains uncertain for the upcoming three-match series, starting on Monday.
Stokes took part in a training session on Friday, where he batted in the nets and bowled a few deliveries at a slower pace, a positive sign but not enough to confirm his availability. While the team waits for further updates, England opener Zak Crawley said, “He seems to be recovering well, but we don’t know for sure yet. He’s been running and doing some stuff, but more tests are needed.”
Should Stokes be fit to play but unable to bowl, England will face a tricky decision in balancing their side. In their recent series against Sri Lanka, they fielded five specialist bowlers, a strategy that may need rethinking if Stokes is unable to contribute with the ball. One option could involve leaving out a top-order batter, or even replacing wicketkeeper Jamie Smith with Ollie Pope, who could take over the gloves. Another consideration is relying more heavily on Joe Root’s off-spin to make up for Stokes’ absence as a bowler.
Interestingly, leaving Stokes out of the XI entirely might simplify the team’s choices. Crawley suggested that should Stokes be ruled out, Pope could continue as stand-in captain, allowing Smith to remain in the line-up and maintaining England’s five-bowler strategy. With temperatures expected to reach 36 degrees in Multan, having five bowlers could be vital in managing the workload.
The pitch in Multan currently shows a “green tinge,” according to Crawley, which might prompt England to field a combination of three seamers and two spinners. With Olly Stone leaving the tour for his wedding and Josh Hull sidelined by injury, Brydon Carse may be in line for a Test debut. He’s likely competing for a spot with Durham teammate Matthew Potts, providing England with a variety of pace options.
Crawley himself is making a comeback from injury, having spent over two months out with a broken finger. Though medical advice suggests he should refrain from returning to his usual second-slip fielding position, the 26-year-old is eager to contribute fully. “I feel brand new,” Crawley said. “I’ve got a renewed hunger and energy, and I’m excited to get back out there with the boys.”
As England prepares to face Pakistan in challenging conditions, the uncertainty surrounding Stokes adds another layer of intrigue to what promises to be an exciting Test series.
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