England captain Ben Stokes may be unable to participate in the opening Test of the three-match series against Pakistan in Multan. He is still recovering from a hamstring injury that has sidelined him since August, including England's recent series win over Sri Lanka.
Ben Stokes still recovering from hamstring injury?
Stokes has resumed training in Multan, engaging in batting drills and limited bowling in the nets. However, there are concerns about his full fitness, and he himself acknowledged last week that bowling at the start of the series might be challenging.
England's star opener Zak Crawly, during conversation with BBC Sport said:
"He [Stokes] seems to be recovering well from his injury. We don’t know just yet, but he’s been running and doing some stuff."
England's selection dilemma regarding Ben Stokes
In case Ben Stokes plays as a specialist batter but not bowl, England will face a challenging decision when it comes to their team composition. Their recent series against Sri Lanka featured five specialist bowlers, leaving them with fewer batting options. To avoid dropping a batter or wicketkeeper Jamie Smith, England could consider playing four specialist bowlers and relying on Joe Root's off-spin to provide additional bowling support. Interestingly, England's lineup might become easier to manage if Stokes ends up missing the match. Ollie Pope could continue as captain, Smith could retain his place in the middle order, and England could maintain a five-bowler attack.
Crawley recognised the difficulties of playing in Pakistan's conditions and stressed on the importance of a balanced team, especially with the 'green tinge' on the Multan pitch that may call for three seamers and two spinners. England's squad depth will be further tested with Olly Stone leaving for his wedding and Josh Hull sidelined by a quad injury. This situation opens up an opportunity for Brydon Carse, who could potentially make his Test debut alongside his Durham teammate Matthew Potts, both vying for spots in the starting XI.
While there is uncertainty regarding Ben Stokes, Crawley expressed confidence in the options available to England.
“We’ve got a really deep squad, with plenty of options with the ball and with the bat. Whatever team comes out, it will be a nice balance either way,” Crawley said.
England's Test squad for Pakistan tour:
Ben Stokes, Gus Atkinson, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Jordan Cox, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Josh Hull, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Rehan Ahmed, Joe Root, Shoaib Bashir, Jamie Smith, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes
