Monday, December 23, 2024

Ben Duckett: England opener expected to be fit to bat against Pakistan

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If Duckett has suffered a serious injury, uncapped Jordan Cox is the spare batter in the England squad, though any potential absence for Duckett could also leave space for captain Ben Stokes’ return to the side.

Stokes is missing his fourth consecutive Test because of a hamstring injury, with Pope captaining in his place.

On Tuesday Stokes had a session of intense running, spent around 40 minutes batting in the nets, then bowled three overs in the middle during the tea interval.

After pace bowler Josh Hull was ruled out of the tour with a quad injury, England will lose a further member of their squad when pace bowler Olly Stone returns to the UK to get married on Saturday.

Stone is unlikely to back in Pakistan for the second Test, also in Multan, beginning next Tuesday.

That would leave Matthew Potts as the only back-up seamer, meaning few options for rotation after England spent 149 overs in the field in Pakistan’s first innings.

At the moment, the tourists have no plans to call up another pace bowler.

For Carse, it was a gruelling introduction to Test cricket. The Durham man claimed his maiden wicket when Naseem Shah turned a catch to leg slip and he followed up by pinning Ameer Jamal leg before.

“The last two days have been immensely tough conditions,” said the 29-year-old. “To be able to pick up a couple of wickets today felt rewarding. It’s been a tough graft.

“The guys will rest up tonight and bat positively to put the Pakistan bowlers under pressure.”

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