Ben Stokes is back, and cricket fans are buzzing! England has announced its squad for the upcoming three-match Test series against Pakistan, starting on October 7. After missing the Sri Lanka series due to injury, Stokes is ready to lead the charge as England’s captain once again.
Brydon Carse has grabbed the spotlight with his first-ever Test call-up. Carse, known for his blazing fast deliveries, faced a suspension earlier this year due to betting activities but made an impressive comeback with a century against Somerset. Now, he’s set to unleash his pace alongside other 90mph bowlers, Gus Atkinson and Olly Stone.
The decision to bring Carse on board comes as Mark Wood’s elbow injury rules him out for the rest of the year. The squad’s balance is further highlighted with Rehan Ahmed’s inclusion over Tom Hartley, emphasizing England’s focus on spin for this tour.
In the batting lineup, Dan Lawrence is out after a shaky performance against Sri Lanka, and Jordan Cox gets a chance to prove himself with his Test debut. Zak Crawley, recovering from a finger injury, is also back in the mix, giving England some serious firepower.
England Test Squad
Ben Stokes (captain), 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, Chris Woakes.
Series Schedule
- 1st Test: Multan, Oct 7-11
- 2nd Test: Karachi (subject to change), Oct 15-19
- 3rd Test: Rawalpindi, Oct 24-28