New Delhi: England suffered a big blow ahead of the first Test match against Pakistan as skipper Ben Stokes was ruled out due to injury. Stokes continues to recover from a torn hamstring and might be well before the second Test match. In his absence, Ollie Pope will take charge of the side for the opening game of the three-match Test series beginning in Multan on Monday.
Stokes had hoped to be ready after rehabbing from the injury he sustained in August. “I tried my hardest to get myself fit for this first game but I’ve taken the call to miss this one. I’ve not quite managed to get game ready,” Stokes said Saturday. “I’ve got a good 10 days to get myself ready for the second.” The all-rounder was optimistic for the second test but on the prospects of bowling said “it’s too far away to say.” Pope captained England to a 2-1 series win over Sri Lanka last month.
Who has received a call-up?
With Stokes out of the match, England have given a call-up to 29-year-old Brydon Carse, who will make his debut in the longest format. Carse has taken 147 first-class wickets in as many as 48 matches and is being considered a valuable resource in the English cricket team. He will be joined by Chris Woakes and Gus Atkinson in the pace bowling department.
The second Test is scheduled to take place on October 15, also in Multan, while the third and the final Test match will be played in Rawalpindi on October 24. Stokes would be eyeing a recovery by the second Test match, to add value to the already strong side.
England squad for the first Test
Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (C), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith, Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse (Debut), Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir
Skipper Ben Stokes has been ruled out of the first Test match of the three-game series against Pakistan due to an injury. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
