Captain Stokes on track for Pakistan tour

England captain Ben Stokes is “on track” to feature in the Test series in Pakistan after undergoing scans on his hamstring injury on Wednesday.
Stokes was sidelined for England’s recent Test series against Sri Lanka due to the hamstring tear he suffered playing for Northern Superchargers in The Hundred on August 11.
Ollie Pope stood in as Test captain as England won the Sri Lanka series 2-1.
But Stokes is likely to resume his role as skipper against Pakistan after the 33-year-old all-rounder’s positive scan results.
England fly out to Pakistan next week for a three-match Test tour that gets under way in Multan on October 7.
“England Men’s Test captain Ben Stokes today underwent planned scans on the hamstring injury that ruled him out of the Test series against Sri Lanka,” the England and Wales Cricket Board said on Wednesday.
“The results of the scans were positive and confirmed that his recovery, since sustaining the injury six-and-a-half weeks ago, remains on track to participate in the upcoming Test series against Pakistan.”
Even if he is ready to lead England in Pakistan, there will be doubts about Stokes’ ability to bowl in the early part of the tour.
Speaking to Sky Sports on Tuesday, Stokes was asked if he was likely to be able to bowl in the first Test and said: “I think that’s you getting ahead of yourself. Obviously I’ve been six-and-a-half weeks now of just walking and doing stuff in the gym.
“There’s a lot more than just my hamstring that I need to get back firing and working up again in terms of bowling.”
On Tuesday, Stokes also said he would be willing to return to the white-ball setup under new coach Brendon McCullum if he was asked but added that there had been no conversations about him coming back into the limited overs squads.
McCullum’s appointment as head coach across all formats came after a two-year period of having separate coaches for the white and red-ball teams and followed Matthew Mott’s departure as limited-overs coach in July.
Meanwhile Will Jacks says England’s new-look one-day side need time to get to grips with a format they rarely play after beating Australia to keep their five-match series alive.
Jacks hit a brilliant 84 as he and centurion Harry Brook led the hosts to a rain-affected win in Durham on Tuesday following victories for the world champions in the two opening games.
Without seasoned campaigners Stokes, Jos Buttler, Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow - all of whom played in England’s triumphant 2019 World Cup campaign - the host nation are relying on a new generation in the current series. But Brook and Jacks have had scant exposure to the 50-over game.
Neither has featured in county cricket’s One-Day Cup since 2019, with leading white-ball players routinely skipping the tournament following the advent of The Hundred, which added to an already packed calendar.
“With the lack of 50-over cricket that we play now, finding that tempo can be difficult,” Jacks, 25, said before another must-win clash at Lord’s on Friday.
“Of course it is difficult. The schedule only allows what it allows and that’s for people above us (to determine).
“We just go where we’re told. I think when you’re leading up to a major event, you are going to play more but with the way TV is... no, that’s out of our control.
“This is our first time together as a squad so it’s going to take time to get there but we’re progressing every game and hopefully when we come back next time we’ll be one step further.”
Despite his inexperience - just 32 List A appearances in the six years since his debut - Jacks has impressed in the 50-over game, with four half-centuries in 10 one-day internationals.
Following heavy defeats at Trent Bridge and Headingley, England won the third ODI at the Riverside by 46 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method for weather-affected matches.
It was Australia’s first defeat after 14 straight wins in the format.