Ben Stokes a major doubt for England’s first Test against Pakistan
England captain Ben Stokes is a major doubt for Monday’s first Test against Pakistan with a hamstring injury.
The 33-year-old suffered a left-hamstring tear playing for Northern Superchargers in the Hundred on Aug 11 with the injury subsequently keeping him out of the entire Test series against Sri Lanka. Now Stokes appears unlikely to overcome the problem in time for the Pakistan series opener in sweltering Multan.
While England declared him “on track” for this series after seeing a specialist 10 days ago, he played a minor role in their first training session on Pakistani soil, facing half an hour of throw-downs from assistant coach Paul Collingwood, and bowling around 10 deliveries off a two-pace run-up.
A final decision will be made at training on Saturday over whether he plays any part in the first Test, but England are unlikely to take any risks given Stokes’s fitness history – less than a year ago he had major knee surgery – and the fact that he has spoken recently of the higher recurrence rate of this injury.
If he is not fit, Ollie Pope will captain England in his 50th Test, as he did in the 2-1 win over Sri Lanka, with Harry Brook likely to step in as vice-captain again.
“I think he’s got to do a few more tests, but he’s been doing some running and stuff,” said opener Zak Crawley.
“He seems to be going well, recovering well from his injury, [but] we don’t know just yet. We feel ready, whatever team comes out it will be a nice balance either way.
“We’ve got a really deep squad with plenty of options with the ball and with the bat as well.”
There is better news on two other players who ended the summer injured. Gus Atkinson picked up a thigh injury in the defeat to Sri Lanka at the Oval, but bowled on Friday. Meanwhile, Crawley will return from an injury of his own to open the batting with Ben Duckett, after Dan Lawrence was dropped. Crawley said he would not field in the slips as he protects the finger he broke against West Indies in July.
“I feel brand new. I’m looking forward to getting out there,” he said. “I couldn’t pick up a bat for five weeks. I’ve certainly missed it, so I can’t wait to get out there again with the boys.
“It was a nasty break at the time but I’ve recovered well and I don’t feel it at all while I’m batting.
“I won’t go at slip, just from advice from the doctor, but I feel like I could. I’m trying to rest it but I did a few catches and it feels fine. I’m just trying to follow the professional advice.”
Stokes missing out entirely would allow England to pick three seamers and two spinners on a pitch that Crawley described as looking “a little bit green” to go with the serious heat.
The seamers who helped England to a 3-0 win in Pakistan in 2022 are all missing, with James Anderson retired, Mark Wood injured and Ollie Robinson out of favour. Anderson is the bowling coach on this tour, but is not scheduled to arrive in the country until early next week as he is playing in golf’s Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland.
Chris Woakes would likely play his first Test outside England since March 2022 were Stokes unfit to bowl, while selection for the series opener would end with a mad dash back home for Olly Stone, who is getting married next Saturday. Atkinson and Brydon Carse would provide pace, and Matt Potts indefatigability.
