After securing a victory in the first Test in Multan, England has more good news on the horizon. Regular Test captain Ben Stokes, who missed the opener due to a hamstring injury, is expected to make a comeback in the second Test against Pakistan.
Ben Stokes has been working hard on his fitness, and reports suggest he is likely to play in the second game, barring any setbacks. The all-rounder suffered a torn hamstring during The Hundred competition in August. Despite being included in the Test squad for the Pakistan tour, Stokes failed to recover in time for the Multan Test and took rest.
England’s stand-in captain, Ollie Pope, provided an update on Stokes’ condition in an interview with Sky Sports. While Pope didn’t delve into details about the recovery process, his smile when asked about Ben Stokes’ return hinted at a positive outlook. “I’m not 100 per cent sure, but he’s been training really well. He’s keen to get playing again, so fingers crossed.”
If Ben Stokes returns, there are three possible replacement options. The simplest option is for Stokes to replace Pope, the only batter who struggled in the Multan Test. Another option is to drop Shoaib Bashir, who performed poorly in the first game. Bashir disappointed with both his bowling and fielding efforts. Stokes could offer balance with both bat and ball.
A third option could see Stokes replacing Chris Woakes, but that depends on Stokes’ readiness to bowl. If he’s fit to play as a full all-rounder, he could replace the underperforming Woakes.
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