2nd Test
Ben Stokes has returned to captaincy as England has field an all-Durham seam attack for the second Test
England’s regular Test captain, Ben Stokes, will make his return to cricket nine weeks after sustaining a hamstring injury during The Hundred.
Declared fit to lead, Stokes will captain the tourists in the second Multan Test against Pakistan, starting Tuesday.
Stokes had been working on his fitness on the sidelines of the first Multan Test, using the time between sessions to build up his workload as both a batter and bowler.
He batted and bowled in the nets and even took part in a brief slip-catching drill on Monday.
The only other change to the XI that dominated Pakistan by an innings and 47 runs last week is Matt Potts.
England have opted for an all-Durham seam attack with Stokes, Potts, and Brydon Carse, who impressed with figures of 4 for 140 across 38 overs in the first Test.
Potts had previously played in the first two Tests against Sri Lanka at Manchester and Lord’s in August.
Stokes and Potts replace Chris Woakes and Gus Atkinson, who have been rested for this match.
Despite Pakistan announcing their intention to reuse the same pitch for the second Test, England are sticking with the same combination of three seamers and two spinners.
Finger spinners Jack Leach and Shoaib Bashir will be listed on the nominations sheet, while leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed misses out on the second Test.
Under Stokes’ captaincy, England became the first team to whitewash Pakistan at home with a 3-0 series win in 2022.
Last week, under stand-in captain Ollie Pope, England extended their winning streak to four consecutive Test victories against Pakistan.
England XI:
| Player Name |
|---|
| Zak Crawley |
| Ben Duckett |
| Ollie Pope |
| Joe Root |
| Harry Brook |
| Ben Stokes (Captain) |
| Jamie Smith (WK) |
| Brydon Carse |
| Matthew Potts |
| Jack Leach |
| Shoaib Bashir |
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