PAK v ENG 2024: England captain Ben Stokes eyes return in second Test in Multan

England Test captain and star all-rounder Ben Stokes could return to the playing XI for the second Test against Pakistan in Multan starting Tuesday (Oct 15). Stokes missed the first Test after failing to recover from the torn hamstring sustained in August. Ollie Pope captained the team in his absence, guiding them to a historic win in Multan by an innings and 47 runs.

Following England's greatest Test win in Asia, also the biggest (by runs), Pope hinted at Stokes' much-awaited return to the playing XI for the next game, boosting England's chances of bagging successive series win in Pakistan.

Although he did not confirm his participation, Pope revealed Stokes had trained well the past week, showing keenness in getting back.

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Who sits out if Stokes returns?

Former England captain Nasser Hussain said considering Stokes is returning from an injury, he cannot play as one of the three seamers in case he replaces Chris Woakes in the XI. The right-arm seamer could be an addition to the pace attack of Woakes, Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse, with Shoaib Bashir and Jack Leach certain to retain their places.

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In that case, England will have to leave out a batter, potentially either opener Ben Duckett, who suffered a thumb injury in the first innings, or the stand-in captain Pope.

Hussain feels given how Duckett played through his 84-run knock in the first innings, he might retain his place, leaving England with only one option remaining, dropping Pope for Stokes.

"Pope almost gave things away [in his interview] that Stokes will be fit, but he can't play as one of only three seamers, that is for certain," Hussain said, as quoted by Sky Sports. "He has to be one of four, leaving either a spinner or batter vulnerable.

"If he's playing as a batter only, then Ollie Pope is the most vulnerable. I know he's captain, but he won't be if Ben plays.

"It's a tricky one: if he can bowl a bit, you could maybe bring him in for the second spinner.

"If it's the same sort of pitch, it won't spin much, not until day four or day five, so could Stokes maybe come in for Shoaib Bashir?"

Meanwhile, following the second Test in Multan, the teams will travel to Rawalpindi for the final match of the three-match series.

(With inputs from agencies)