Ben Stokes Injury Update: England Captain Doubtful for First Test

England cricket captain Ben Stokes remains a doubt for the first Test against Pakistan in Multan, as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury. The 33-year-old all-rounder has been sidelined since August, missing the recent 2-1 series victory over Sri Lanka.

During England’s first training session in Multan on Friday, Stokes batted in the nets and bowled a few deliveries, though with a reduced run-up. He previously indicated that he may not be able to bowl at the start of the three-match series, which is scheduled to begin on Monday.

Speaking about Stokes’ fitness, opener Zak Crawley shared: “He seems to be recovering well from his injury. We are unsure if he will play yet, as he still needs to undergo more tests, but he’s been doing some running.”

If Stokes is fit to play but unable to bowl, England will face a dilemma regarding team balance. In the previous series against Sri Lanka, the team opted for five specialist bowlers, which may necessitate dropping a batter or even replacing wicketkeeper Jamie Smith with Ollie Pope behind the stumps. Alternatively, England could opt for four specialist bowlers, leaning on Joe Root’s off-spin to complete their attack.

Interestingly, the task of team balance could be simplified if Stokes is ruled out entirely. In his absence, Ollie Pope would continue as captain, Jamie Smith would keep his spot at number six, and England could include five bowlers, which might be essential in the intense Multan heat, expected to reach 36 degrees Celsius.

Crawley also mentioned that the Multan pitch currently has a “green tinge,” which could prompt England to select three seamers alongside two spinners. With pace bowler Olly Stone departing for his wedding and Josh Hull ruled out with a quad injury, Brydon Carse is in line for a potential Test debut, competing with fellow Durham player Matthew Potts for a place in the team.

Despite the injury concerns, Crawley is confident in England’s depth: “We’ve got a really deep squad with numerous options both with the bat and the ball. We feel ready, and whatever team is selected, it will have a nice balance.”

Crawley himself is making a comeback after being sidelined for more than two months with a broken finger. He injured his little finger on his right hand while attempting a slip catch during the third Test against the West Indies at Edgbaston in July. After not being able to hold a bat for five weeks, Crawley resumed training over two weeks ago. Though he believes he is fit to field at second slip, medical professionals have advised against it for now.

Expressing his eagerness to return, Crawley said: “I feel brand new and can’t wait to get out there. This break has given me a renewed hunger and a lot of energy. Although I wouldn’t want to experience time out again, I’ve definitely taken some positives from it.”