“I feel good. I’m looking forward to getting back on the field,” Stokes said before his return. “I have worked very hard at the end of my rehabilitation period at home and also during the last test match. I underwent a fitness test, practically, during the last few days, and I passed it.” pretty good.”
England are preparing for a lower-scoring second Test, with the match set to be played in the same bracket as the only loser in their innings that the last generation wins. The pitch has been watered a lot, but has hardened in the sun over two days of practice, and the deteriorated surface could attract spinners from both teams to the game.
Stokes has been bowling as a coach and could be England’s third chance behind Potts and Brydon Carse, his Durham team-mates. This is a rare case of England picking three seamers from the same county. “It’s going to be a moment of pride for the club,” he mentioned. “Durham has a great track record of producing England cricketers and, in particular, fast bowlers.”
On his personal bowling condition, Stokes mentioned: “Obviously I have to be sensible. Playing on a used wicket made the decision a little easier… We have two workhorses in the team, Carsey and Potts, They just keep going and I go and I go. But I am available to bowl, and when I feel the time is right to come in and make an impact, there will be no doubt in my mind.”
All of England’s seamers had a heavy workload in the first Test, despite winning their innings: Atkinson bowled 39 overs, Carse 38 and Woakes 35. Atkinson and Woakes each played all six Tests of the summer season at home from England and have rested, with a Shorten the time between suits, the old Carse must be much more energetic after spending June, July and August fulfilling a preventive role.
“You’re seeing the last seven Test matches have been pretty grueling, particularly the last one,” Stokes mentioned. “Looking at the seamers we have here, this is a good time for them to rest and refresh their bodies. They have had a great summer and put in some very good performances, they bowled a lot of overs. It’s a good time for them to get up and take a break. rest”.
Ben Duckett keeps his pitch in control of form and then recovers from a dislocated thumb suffered on the second night of the primary test, when Jamie Smith will return to Wrong. 7 to allow Stokes to return to his favored position at Wrong. 6.
England have been stuck with the same spinners, Jack Leach and Shoaib Bashir, despite Bashir’s calm first check, in which he returned figures in the form of one for 156. Rehan Ahmed is his team’s alternative option, the age of Warwickshire and England below. 19-year-old Tazeem Ali is at peace in Pakistan and has been bowling in the nets this generation.
England XI: 1 Zak Crawley, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Ollie Pope, 4 Joe Root, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Ben Stokes (captain), 7 Jamie Smith (wk), 8 Brydon Carse, 9 Matthew Potts, 10 Jack Leach, 11 Shoaib Bashir
Matt Curler is a working writer at ESPNcricinfo. @mroller98