NEWS
Follow UsEngland captain Ben Stokes is set to miss the first Test against Pakistan in Multan, starting October 7, as he continues to recover from a hamstring tear, the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced on October 5 (Saturday). The injury also kept him out of the three Tests against Sri Lanka at home. Ollie Pope will continue to lead in Stokes' absence.
England are also set to hand a Test debut to fast bowler Brydon Carse. Carse has 127 first-class wickets from 48 matches since making his debut for Durham in 2016.
He will be part of the pace trio, which consists of Chris Woakes and Gus Atkinson. Jack Leach also returns to the playing XI for the first time since India tour earlier this year. Shoaib Bashir will partner him.
Woakes has played just five Tests in Asia, the last of which was in 2016 against India in Mumbai. Moreover, Zak Crawley is also drafted straight into the XI after missing the Test series against Sri Lanka due to a finger injury.
The first two of the three Tests will be played in Multan, and the action will shift to Rawalpindi for the final Test.
England XI for 1st Test vs Pakistan: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (c), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir
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