England Test captain Ben Stokes returns for Pakistan tour

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has officially announced the 17-member strong England squad for the three-match Test series against the hosts Pakistan. Test captain Ben Stokes returns along with the opener Zak Crawley. The ECB has also named two uncapped players for this upcoming tour. 

Pakistan will host the three-match Test series against England from October 7. Although Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has recently confirmed that Multan and Rawalpindi will host the three Tests of this forthcoming series, the ECB has also clarified that the venues are yet to be confirmed. This Test series will be a part of the 2023-2025 ICC World Test Championship. 

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England Test captain Ben Stokes and opener Zak Crawley return from injuries

The 33-year-old English Test captain Ben Stokes has recovered from his hamstring injury and is ready to return to the Test squad. After the last Test against West Indies in Birmingham, Stokes was busy in The Hundred, where he sustained a hamstring injury as he was carried off.  

Meanwhile, the opener Zak Crawley was injured during the series-finale Birmingham Test against West Indies last July. He had a fracture on the right little finger, but he has made significant progress in recovery to earn the call-up in the national team. 

Both Stokes and Crawley missed the recently concluded three-match home Test series against Sri Lanka. 

Jordan Cox and Brydon Carse are the uncapped names

The 23-year-old wicketkeeper Jordan Cox and the 29-year-old fast-bowling all-rounder Brydon Carse are the uncapped among the 17-member Test squad for the upcoming Pakistan tour. 

Apart from the off-spinner Shoaib Bashir, left-arm spinner Jack Leach and leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed have also been selected in this Test squad. 

Talking about the pace-bowling line-up, Stokes has the options of Chris Woakes, Olly Stone, recently Test debutant Josh Hull, Matthew Potts, and Gus Atkinson.  

It will be England’s first Test series in Asia since their 4-1 Test series defeat against the hosts India last March. 

In late 2022, England travelled to Pakistan for the first time in 17 years. In that tour, England won the three-match Test series by 3-0. 

Meanwhile, Pakistan last won a home Test in February 2021 against South Africa. Since then, they have drawn four and lost six out of their last ten home Tests. 

England’s Test squad for the upcoming Pakistan tour

Ben Stokes (C), Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Jordan Cox, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Josh Hull, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes.