Mon | Dec 16, 2024

England captain Ben Stokes to miss first Test against Pakistan

Published:Sunday | October 6, 2024 | 12:13 AM
AP England’s Test skipper Ben Stokes gestures toward teammates during a practice session, in Multan, Pakistan yesterday.
AP
AP England’s Test skipper Ben Stokes gestures toward teammates during a practice session, in Multan, Pakistan yesterday.

MULTAN, Pakistan (AP):

ENGLAND CAPTAIN Ben Stokes won’t play in the first Test against Pakistan because he’s still recovering from a torn hamstring.

The opener of the three-Test series begins tomorrow in Multan, where Ollie Pope will take charge of his first overseas Test.

Stokes had hoped to be ready after rehabbing from the injury he sustained in August.

“I tried my hardest to get myself fit for this first game but I’ve taken the call to miss this one. I’ve not quite managed to get game ready,” Stokes said yesterday. “I’ve got a good 10 days to get myself ready for the second.”

The all-rounder was optimistic for the second Test but, on the prospects of bowling, said “it’s too far away to say.”

Pope captained England to a 2-1 series win over Sri Lanka last month.