England captain Ben Stokes is set to undergo a scan next week to assess his hamstring injury and determine his fitness for the upcoming three-match Test series against Pakistan. The 33-year-old sustained the injury in early August, causing him to miss England’s 2-1 series loss to Sri Lanka.
Despite his injury, Stokes has remained active in training, including a lengthy net session at Durham’s Chester-le-Street last week, and he recently participated in the Celebrity Pro-Am at the PGA Championship at Wentworth. The forthcoming scan is part of routine monitoring and is not due to any recent setbacks. The first Test is scheduled to start on October 7.
Earlier this month, Stokes emphasized the importance of a full recovery over rushing his return. “I’d rather take an extra two weeks than risk doing something worse and being out for longer,” he said.
Stokes is currently included in the 17-man squad set to travel to Pakistan on October 1. Should he be unable to play in the first Test, Ollie Pope is expected to step in as captain.
Stokes’ potential availability poses a selection dilemma for England. If he can only bat, the team may struggle with maintaining their balance, possibly requiring Stokes to bat in the top five and displace a regular top-order batsman. Alternatively, England may opt for four frontline bowlers, supported by Joe Root’s off-spin, a tactic used earlier this year when Stokes couldn’t bowl due to a knee injury.
The venues for the series remain uncertain. While Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Multan were initially planned, construction work in Karachi may impact its availability. Despite speculation about relocating some matches to the UAE, it now seems that all three Tests will be held in Pakistan.
