Ben Stokes explains how heat in Pakistan will test England players’ character

New Delhi: England Test captain Ben Stokes said that traveling to subcontinent to play Test cricket needs a lot of character and the challenges thrown under the intense heat conditions will give a real taste of Test cricket.

England were dealt with an early blow after Stokes was sidelined for the first Test in Multan, starting on Monday. Ollie Pope, who led the team in the Oval Test of the Sri Lanka last month, will once again step into the captain’s shoes in the absence of their star all-rounder.

The three-match Test series is the second assignment for England in the current World Test Championship (WTC) cycle after the Three Lions were hammered 4-1 by table leaders India earlier in the February-March period.

England have now arrived in Pakistan after two years when they Stokes-led side swept the Test series 3-0. The last time they visited it was in December period, where the temperature was a bit cool. This time around in October, it has peaked hotter nudging 40 degrees (in Multan) during England’s practice days ahead of the Test series, as former England player Michael Atherton observed in his column for Sky Sports.

“It is really exciting for the lads to come out here and be exposed to these conditions for the first time. It will show them how hard Test cricket can be. It is tough anyway, but coming to the subcontinent in these temperatures it takes character and we have a lot of characters who will be willing to stand up to the challenge,” Stokes said on how the team will adapt to the testing conditions.

Atherton concerned over England’s inexperience bowling despite Stokes’ faith

England all-rounder Chris Woakes is expected to lead the bowling attack in the first Test after the retirement of James Anderson in July. Young and promising pacers Gus Atkinson and Matthew Potts can combine to form a formidable pace trioka.

Olly Stone, who made his return to the Test side after three years against Sri Lanka, will also be another valuable option. England also have plenty of spin options in youngsters Rehan Ahmed, Shoaib Bashir and season campaigner Jack Leach besides the part-time offering from Joe Root.

Although Stokes feels that Pope will get the best out of their bowling attack, Atherton considered the current England bowling unit as inexperienced.

“There are no doubts in my mind about the bowlers we have picked. We know they will be able to withstand that heat. There will be no shying away from what Popey [stand-in captain Ollie Pope] asks them to do, even if it is hot and they are a bit tired, because that is what you do for the team,” Stokes said.

Atherton believes that England’s current pacers have raw pace and their inexperience might only find them a big challenge ahead.

“It’s a very different England team, as well. No Ben Stokes, he’s failed to recover from the hamstring injury he sustained in the summer,” Atherton wrote for Sky Sports. “Ollie Pope continues to deputise for him, and in the absence of Jimmy Anderson, Mark Wood and Ollie Robinson, it feels like a much more inexperienced and raw pace bowling attack.”