England captain Ben Stokes has been ruled out of the first Test in Pakistan as he continues to recover from a torn hamstring.
Stokes sustained the injury in August while playing for Northern Superchargers in The Hundred and subsequently missed his side’s 2-1 series win over Sri Lanka.
He had been hoping to lead his country out in Multan on Monday – live on Sky Sports – but is not yet ready to take the field.
Ollie Pope will continue to deputise as skipper after leading the hosts to a 2-1 series win over Sri Lanka.
Live Test Cricket
Monday 7th October 5:30am
“I tried my hardest to get myself fit for this first game but I’ve taken the call to miss this one,” said a disappointed Stokes. “I’ve not quite managed to get game ready.
“There is a lot that has to go into my rehab programme. We got to a certain point, but looking at the bigger picture of what we’ve got coming up and physically where I’m at, I’m not quite ready to play.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Nasser Hussain analyses England’s bowlers ahead of their Test against Pakistan
“It’s always frustrating to miss out. I’ve got some good things to focus on, so even though I’m not playing I’ve got a goal in mind. I’ve got a good 10 days to get myself ready for the second.”
Carse to make England Test debut
There is room, however, in the squad for Brydon Carse as the Durham seamer gets set to make his Test debut.
Carse impressed in the one-day series against Australia and comes in to fill the fast-bowler hole left by Mark Wood, who has been ruled out for the rest of the year with an elbow injury.
Spinner Jack Leach is also included in the XI, the spinner making his return to the Test set-up for the first time since the India tour in January.
Zak Crawley, as expected, rejoins the team after fully recovering from a broken finger.,
“I think someone like Carse can do that Mark Wood role,” former England captain Nasser Hussain told Sky Sports News. “I was impressed with him in the white-ball cricket.
“He’s got a lot of pace and if they’re the flat pitches that England played on last time, then you’re going to need that express pace as well as skill, and Carse provides that.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Speaking on the Sky Sports Cricket podcast, Urooj Mumtaz discussed the pitch conditions England can expect against Pakistan
Nasser is also confident in Leach ahead of his Test return.
“I was watching some of the Somerset games towards the end of the summer and Leach looked like he had really, really good rhythm in those,” he added.
“He’s obviously missed out because of Bashir, his Somerset team-mate, going past him but I think he’s done a really good job for Somerset and he had a good tour out there last time.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Pakistan captain Shan Masood says his side will look to regain form as they prepare to take on England in a three-Test series
First Test: Multan – October 7-11
Second Test: Multan – October 15-19
Third Test: Rawalpindi – October 24-28
Every match from the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup is also live on Sky Sports from October 3-20 with Australia aiming for a third straight title and seventh overall, and England seeking to triumph for the first time since the inaugural edition in 2009.
Watch the first Test between Pakistan and England in Multan, live on Sky Sports Cricket and Main Event from 5.30am Monday (first ball 6.30am).