Ben Stokes Returns for England’s Second Test Against Pakistan
Multan, Pakistan
England’s Test captain, Ben Stokes, is back in action after recovering from a hamstring injury. He will play in the second Test match against Pakistan, starting Tuesday. Stokes replaces Chris Woakes in the team, while Matthew Potts comes in for Gus Atkinson.
England is gearing up for the second Test on the same Multan pitch where they secured a historic win last week. Stokes will be the third seam bowler alongside his Durham teammates, Potts and Brydon Carse.
In the first Test, England’s bowlers had a heavy workload, with Atkinson, Carse, and Woakes bowling 39, 38, and 35 overs, respectively. Atkinson and Woakes participated in all six Tests during England’s home summer.
Ben Duckett remains at the top of the batting order despite a thumb injury scare. He has recovered in time for the match. With Stokes’ return, young wicketkeeper Jamie Smith will bat at number seven, while Stokes takes his preferred number six spot.
England’s spin attack will include Jack Leach and Shoaib Bashir, with Rehan Ahmed and Tazeem Ali as additional options.
England’s Playing XI for the Second Test
| Player |
|---|
| Zak Crawley |
| Ben Duckett |
| Ollie Pope |
| Joe Root |
| Harry Brook |
| Ben Stokes (captain) |
| Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper) |
| Brydon Carse |
| Matthew Potts |
| Jack Leach |
| Shoaib Bashir |
Doubts Revealed
Ben Stokes -: Ben Stokes is a famous cricket player from England. He is known for his all-rounder skills, meaning he can both bat and bowl well.
Test match -: A Test match is a type of cricket game that lasts up to five days. It is the longest format of cricket and is considered very challenging.
Multan -: Multan is a city in Pakistan. It is known for its rich history and is one of the places where cricket matches are played.
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.
Seam option -: In cricket, a seam bowler is someone who bowls the ball in a way that it bounces unpredictably off the seam. Being a seam option means Ben Stokes will help with this type of bowling.
Spin attack -: A spin attack in cricket involves bowlers who make the ball spin in the air, making it tricky for batsmen to hit. It is a different style from fast or seam bowling.
