Yes, Ben Stokes has returned! England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced a 17-man squad for the upcoming three Tests against Pakistan, starting from October 7. Stokes, who was ruled out of the 3-match series against Sri Lanka due to a hamstring tear, will return to his captaincy duties.
‘Suspended’ Brydon Carse?
England have handed a maiden Test callup to fast bowler Brydon Carse, who has previously dismissed both Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya in ODI format. Carse served a ban earlier this year for his betting activities.
Carse’s inclusion is particularly noteworthy given the circumstances of his ban. In May, the 29-year-old was suspended from all cricket for 16 months, with 13 months suspended, after admitting to placing bets on cricket matches, including Durham games in which he was not playing. Despite the suspension, Carse was allowed to continue training and marked his return to action with a century against Somerset in August.
The fast bowler’s inclusion adds another 90mph option to England’s ranks, joining Gus Atkinson and Olly Stone. His selection comes in the wake of Mark Wood’s elbow injury, which has ruled the English speedster out for the remainder of the year.
Hartley dropped, Crawly returns
Another talking point is the omission of Tom Hartley, the left-arm spinner who was great in his debut Test series against India. Despite this, Hartley has been overlooked in favor of Rehan Ahmed, who was part of England’s 3-0 whitewash over Pakistan in 2021. Ahmed’s inclusion as the third spinner after Jack Leach and Shoaib Bashir suggests that England are prioritizing spin options for the upcoming series.
In the batting department, Dan Lawrence has been dropped after a disappointing series against Sri Lanka. Despite scoring a century, Lawrence’s inconsistent performances and the need to strengthen the top order have led to his exclusion. Jordan Cox, an uncapped Essex batter, has been rewarded for his impressive domestic form and will make his Test debut.
Zak Crawley, who was sidelined with a broken finger during the Edgbaston Test against West Indies, is back in the squad. While his recovery is ongoing, England are optimistic that he will be fit for the first Test against Pakistan.
England Test squad to tour Pakistan:
Ben Stokes (capt), 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
Pakistan vs England Test schedule
| Test | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Multan | Oct 7-11 |
| 2nd | Karachi (can be changed) | Oct 15-19 |
| 3rd | Rawalpindi | Oct 24-28 |
