MULTAN: England captain Ben Stokes looks on course to return for the second Test against Pakistan, starting in Multan on Tuesday.

The 33-year-old New Zealand-born cricketer had missed the first Test which England won under stand-in skipper Ollie Pope by an innings and 47 runs on Friday.

An England team spokesman said Stokes practised with the team on Sunday. If Stokes is declared fit, he is likely to replace Chris Woakes.

“Ben bowled about four overs at full pace today. He has done some high intensity running and had about a 45-minute batting session in the nets,” said the spokesman.

“He will be assessed after today and a decision will be made on his availability over the course of the next 24 hours.”

Stokes, who is also a medium-pacer, remains one of the top-shelf all-round cricketers in the modern era of international cricket. His highest point in Test cricket came in 2016 when he smashed the fastest-ever Test double century against South Africa at Cape Town. The players also has 203 Test wickets.

England normally name their team two days before the start of a Test, but will wait until a final verdict on Stokes’s fitness on Monday before announcing their side.

Left-handed Stokes, who has played 105 Test matches since making debut in 2013 against Australia at Adelaide, tore his left hamstring while batting during the Hundred domestic competition in August which forced him to sit out of England’s 2-1 home series triumph over Sri Lanka last month, also led by Pope.

Published in Dawn, October 14th, 2024