England cricket fans rejoice! Captain Ben Stokes is set to make a triumphant return to the Test team for the highly anticipated tour of Pakistan in October. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed the exciting news on Tuesday, unveiling a 17-member squad for the three-match series commencing on October 7th.
Stokes, who was forced to miss the recent series against Sri Lanka due to a hamstring injury sustained during The Hundred tournament in August, is now in the final stages of recovery. His inclusion in the squad is a major boost for England, as they look to build on their success in the previous Pakistan tour.
Another familiar face returning to the squad is Zak Crawley, who has been sidelined since July with a fractured right little finger. Crawley’s return will add firepower to the English batting lineup.
The squad also features a blend of experience and emerging talent. Rehan Ahmed, who made his Test debut in Karachi during England’s last tour of Pakistan in December 2022, is included along with Jack Leach, who last played in the opening Test in India in January. Josh Hull, who earned his Test debut against Sri Lanka last week, joins the team alongside Brydon Carse and batter Jordan Cox, both of whom are set to make their Test debuts.
Eight players from the triumphant 2022 squad, including Rehan, Harry Brook, Crawley, Ben Duckett, Leach, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, and Stokes, are part of the team. This formidable group is ready to tackle the challenging conditions of Pakistan.
The venues for the series are expected to be announced by the Pakistan Cricket Board later this week. Get ready for an exciting clash between two cricketing giants!
