Former England captain Nasser Hussain has raised some intriguing points about how England might integrate Ben Stokes into their lineup for the upcoming second Test against Pakistan. Stokes missed the first Test due to a hamstring injury, but despite his absence, England secured a comprehensive win by an innings and 47 runs in Multan. The allrounder’s potential return presents a selection dilemma for England, especially considering their strong performance in the first match.
On a flat pitch where bowlers struggled to find assistance, England’s remarkable all-around effort stood out. Pakistan batted first, posting a massive total of 556, courtesy of impressive centuries from Shan Masood (151), Abdullah Shafique (102), and Agha Salman (104*). However, England responded with a colossal 823/7 declared, spearheaded by Harry Brook’s mammoth 317 and Joe Root’s equally impressive 262.
England’s bowling unit then delivered a superb performance, bundling out Pakistan for 220 in their second innings. Spinner Jack Leach led the charge with a four-wicket haul, while pacers Brydon Carse and Gus Atkinson also shone on the unhelpful surface, taking two wickets each. Chris Woakes contributed with one wicket, ensuring that England sealed the victory.
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Although teams rarely make changes after such a commanding win, the possible return of Ben Stokes could shake things up. If Stokes is fit, he would likely be included in the playing XI, but the question remains: who would make way for him? Nasser Hussain believes Ollie Pope is the most vulnerable, despite the fact that Pope captained the side in Stokes’ absence.
When asked by fellow commentator Ian Ward on Sky Sports about Stokes potentially playing as a specialist batter, Hussain speculated that Pope could be the one to miss out. He explained that if Stokes plays only as a batsman, Pope might be dropped from the lineup, despite his leadership role in the previous game. “Pope would be the most vulnerable,” Nassern Hussain said, before acknowledging that Pope was the acting captain, adding, “He won’t be if Ben plays.”
Hussain also suggested another option for Stokes’ inclusion if he is fit enough to bowl. In that case, the allrounder could potentially replace a second spinner, such as Shoaib Bashir. Hussain admitted that the decision is tricky, especially on Pakistani pitches that tend to spin later in the game. “If it’s the same pitch as the first Test, Stokes could come in for Bashir if he can bowl a bit,” Hussain noted.
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He emphasized that selecting the right combination of bowlers is crucial, as the surfaces in Pakistan don’t typically offer significant turn until days four or five. He added that if Stokes is not able to bowl, the third seamer would have to shoulder a significant burden, leaving either a spinner or a batter vulnerable in the lineup.
As England heads into the second Test, all eyes will be on how they adjust their playing XI to accommodate Stokes, should he be fit to return.
