England’s Cricket Challenges: Ben Stokes and Zak Crawley
Upcoming Test Match in Multan
England’s cricket team is facing some challenges as they prepare for the first Test match against Pakistan in Multan, starting October 7. The team’s captain, Ben Stokes, is uncertain to play due to a hamstring injury he sustained in August during The Hundred tournament. This injury previously kept him out of England’s series win against Sri Lanka, where Ollie Pope stepped in as captain.
Zak Crawley’s Return
On a positive note, opener Zak Crawley has recovered from a broken finger he suffered during the West Indies series. He missed the Sri Lankan series but is now fit to play. Crawley expressed confidence in the team’s depth, stating, “We have got a really deep squad, with plenty of options with the ball and with the bat as well. We feel ready.”
Team Preparations
England plans to announce their playing eleven before the series opener. Crawley mentioned that a last-minute decision might be made regarding Stokes’ participation, as he is still undergoing fitness tests. “He seems to be going well, recovering well from his injury,” Crawley noted.
Current Standings
England is currently fourth in the ICC World Test Championship standings, while Pakistan is eighth. The Pakistani team, led by Shan Masood, is under pressure, having not won a home Test match since February 2021. Their last series against England ended in a 3-0 loss.
England’s Test Squad
The squad for the Pakistan series includes 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, and Chris Woakes.
Doubts Revealed
Ben Stokes -: Ben Stokes is a famous cricketer from England. He is known for his all-rounder skills, meaning he is good at both batting and bowling.
Test Match -: A Test match is a type of cricket game that lasts up to five days. It is the longest form of cricket and is considered very challenging.
Hamstring Injury -: A hamstring injury is when the muscles at the back of your thigh get hurt. It can make it hard to run or play sports.
Zak Crawley -: Zak Crawley is another cricketer from England. He plays as a batsman, which means his main job is to score runs for his team.
ICC World Test Championship -: The ICC World Test Championship is a competition for cricket teams from different countries. Teams play Test matches to earn points and try to become the best in the world.
Shan Masood -: Shan Masood is a cricketer from Pakistan. He is the captain of the Pakistan cricket team for this series.
Joe Root -: Joe Root is a well-known cricketer from England. He is famous for being a very skilled batsman.
Ollie Pope -: Ollie Pope is a young cricketer from England. He is known for his talent in batting.