Captain Ben Stokes has been named in England’s squad for the second Test against Pakistan in Multan, marking his return after recovering from a hamstring injury. Stokes had missed the recent three-match home series against Sri Lanka and the first Test against Pakistan, where England secured a dominant win by an innings.
Ben Stokes’ return brings stability to the squad, especially after his two-month absence from international action. Alongside Stokes, Durham seamer Matthew Potts has also been recalled to the team for the first time since playing at Lord’s against Sri Lanka in August. In contrast, seamers Gus Atkinson and Chris Woakes have been rested for this game.
The return of Stokes, however, is the biggest boost for the team. Known for his ability to inspire moments of brilliance, Stokes’ all-round ability is crucial for England, and his recovery comes at the right time for the side.
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Discussing his fitness, Ben Stokes acknowledged the need for a cautious approach due to his recent injury. “Look, it’s obviously got to be sensible,” he explained on Monday, having been declared fit after bowling in the nets for a few days. “I’m available to bowl, and when I sense the time is right to make an impact, there won’t be any doubts in my mind.”
Stokes and Potts replace Woakes and Atkinson for the second Test against Pakistan 🏴
Full story: https://t.co/wBYfaLLOsp pic.twitter.com/cFD3vlSeHE
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) October 14, 2024
When asked about the possibility of playing as a batsman only, the 33-year-old captain admitted he had considered it. “I wrote a few team combinations down without me bowling, and it just didn’t work.” This highlights the importance of Stokes’ contributions as both a bowler and a leader.
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In Stokes’ absence, Ollie Pope captained the side in the first Test, where England demolished Pakistan by an innings and 47 runs. Notably, Harry Brook’s incredible 317 and Joe Root’s 262 powered England to victory. Despite Pakistan posting over 550 runs in their first innings, they became the first team in the history of Test cricket to lose by an innings after setting such a high total. England will now look to capitalize on this momentum with Stokes back in the fold for the second Test.
England XI for the second Test:
Ben Stokes (captain), Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith, Brydon Carse, Matthew Potts, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir
