Ben Stokes on track to join England side during Pakistan Tests

Ben Stokes is on track to return to the England senior men’s Test side during their tour of Pakistan in October this year. 

Stokes was completing a run during the Northern Superchargers's second innings against Manchester Originals in The Hundred, when he abruptly stopped, clutching his left leg. 

He couldn’t walk off the field independently and had to be supported to the dressing room. Later, he was seen walking on crutches after the game. Scans confirmed that it was a hamstring tear and he was ruled out from the Sri Lanka Test series. 

Stokes' absence was a big blow to England with Zak Crawley being ruled out after breaking his finger in the previous series against the West Indies. Crawley also aims to return to the England side in Pakistan. 

Dan Lawrence was slotted in Crawley's replacement. Addressing the media before the second Test of Sri Lanka series at Lord's, skipper Ollie Pope talked about Stokes. "He's obviously still a fair while away off playing, and he's not trying to play as a batter and a first slip - just yet, anyway. But it's been great to see him,” Pope said. 

“Injuries are never ideal, but they're also great chances for people to keep improving their game and have a little bit of time of reflection and think about what he can work on in his game. I'm sure that's exactly what he's doing in the nets. Going into that Pakistan series and then into New Zealand, he's going to be as fresh as anyone.”

England had notably won 3-0 in their last Test tour to Pakistan, which gave immense boost to their ‘Bazball’ brand of Test cricket. Stokes was praised for his sharp captaincy and the purposefulness with which England played their cricket. 

The England tour of Pakistan 2024 begins on October 7 in Multan and includes three Test matches. 

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