England captain Ben Stokes is set to have a scan on his hamstring injury next week as the team assesses his fitness for the upcoming three-match Test series against Pakistan. The 33-year-old all-rounder suffered the injury in early August, leading to his absence in England’s 2-1 series loss to Sri Lanka.
Although Stokes has been out of action since the injury, he has remained actively involved in training, including a notable net session at Durham’s Chester-le-Street. Recently, he also participated in the Celebrity Pro-Am at the PGA Championship golf event at Wentworth, signaling his gradual return to physical activity.
The scan is part of routine monitoring as he recovers and is not the result of any recent setbacks. England’s management is keen to ensure Stokes makes a full recovery without rushing his return. The first Test against Pakistan is scheduled to begin on October 7.
Reflecting on his return to fitness, Stokes said earlier this month that he is taking a cautious approach: “I’d rather take an extra two weeks than run the risk of potentially doing something worse and then putting myself out of the game for longer.”
Stokes is part of the 17-man squad set to travel to Pakistan on October 1. However, if he is unavailable for the first Test, Ollie Pope is expected to take over the captaincy.
Stokes’ potential availability poses a selection challenge for England, particularly if he is only fit enough to bat. This could force the team to shuffle its top order, potentially pushing him into the top five, which would displace a regular top-order batsman. Alternatively, England could opt for a four-bowler strategy, supported by Joe Root’s part-time spin, a tactic they employed earlier this year when Stokes was unable to bowl due to a knee injury.
