England have decided on their squad for the Pakistan tour which will begin on the 7th of October at Multan Cricket Stadium. The 17-member squad will be led by Ben Stokes, who had to sit the Sri Lankan tour out due to a torn hamstring he picked during the Hundred tournament.
In addition to Stokes’ return, England have decided to go heavy on both of their pace and spin picks. Rehan Ahmed and Jack Leach have both been called back to the team. Leach was sidelined after he picked a knee injury in India earlier this year during the fifth Test match. His recovery from the injury has seen him get picked ahead of Tom Hartley. Ahmed did a decent job on his debut tour last time the team visited Pakistan but had to opt out of the Test series against India due to personal reasons.
Replacing injured Mark Wood who will remain out of the team for the rest of the matches this year, James Hull will board his first slight for an away Test tour. Hull who boasts a very ugly First class bowling average, pocketed three wickets during the second innings in the final Test match against Sri Lanka. But what baffled the fans and pundits more was naming Chris Woakes for an away tour. Woakes, who averages almost 52 with the ball away from home, last played a Test match outside England in early 2022. The only sensible explanation could be that his experience is what got him the go-ahead. Especially with Wood injured, Stuart Broad sitting in the comms box, and James Anderson living the post-retirement job as a coach, England needed some experience to accompany them on their flight to Pakistan.
It will also be Gus Atkinson’s first overseas tour. However, given the form he is in, he needs not to worry about anything.
As for the batting line-up, England decide to give things just a little shake-up. After the volatile outings by the top-order at home against Sri Lanka, dispensing Dan Lawrence seemed like a necessity. With Zak Crawley’s return, Lawrence’s place would have been in danger even if he had done a good job. Brydon Carse has also been added to the squad as a backup opening batter.
Although a PCB spokesperson did put the reports of a venue shift to rest after England expressed their concerns, an official notification is awaited. Nevertheless, England have come with their stocks teeming to battle any kind of conditions they are faced with. This Test tour will be pertinent for both of the teams’ survival in the World Test Championship (WTC). For Pakistan too, this tour will provide an opportunity to avenge the 3-0 defeat England handed them in 2022 as well as the absolutely shambolic form they are currently in.
17-member England Test squad for Pakistan tour: 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
