Ben Stokes to Miss First Test vs. Pakistan

Ben Stokes will miss the first Test against Pakistan due to fitness concerns, prompting selectors to call up Durham seamer Brydon Carse for his debut. Stokes, 33, has not played since early August but had trained separately from the squad. Despite earlier optimism regarding his participation, he confirmed his absence after a batting session in Multan.

“I tried my hardest to get myself fit for this game, but I’ve not quite managed to get game-ready,” Stokes told BBC Sport. He emphasized the importance of continuing his rehabilitation and expressed disappointment at missing the match. Stokes now focuses on preparing for the second Test which starts on October 15. Ollie Pope, who led England during the recent series defeat to Sri Lanka will continue to captain the side.

England’s XI for the first Test includes Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith, Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Jack Leach and Shoaib Bashir. Carse, who recently completed a three-month ban for historical gambling offenses, earned his place in the squad over teammates Matthew Potts and Olly Stone, who is leaving the tour for his wedding.

Joe Root praised Carse’s ability to change games with his wicket-taking skills, saying, “He’s a natural wicket-taker.” Chris Woakes will play his first overseas Test in over two years, while Jack Leach returns after injuries sidelined him in previous matches. England previously swept Pakistan 3-0 during their last tour in 2022.

This Test presents a significant challenge for England’s pace attack especially given the extreme temperatures in Multan where conditions could reach around 36°C.