England announce playing XI for second test

MULTAN: The England cricket team announced their playing XI for the second test against Pakistan on Monday. The match will begin on October 15 at Multan Cricket Stadium.

Ben Stokes will be returning as captain, after being absent from England’s first outing due to a hamstring injury.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) stated that Stoke “has fully recovered from a hamstring tear which has kept him on the sidelines since early August.”

Matthew Potts will also be returning to the team, bolstering the sides fast bowlers in the wake of both Gus Atkinson and Chris Woakes being rested.

“Durham seamer Matt Potts returns to the side for the first time since the Lord’s Test against Sri Lanka at the end of August,” the ECB statement read.

Harry Brook and Joe Root will be returning after their respective record breaking performances in the first test. Brook scored a triple century, the first in 34 years by an English batsman, while senior teammate Root became the all time lead test run scorer for England.

Zac Crowley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Jamie Smith, Brydon Carse, Matt Potts, Jack Leach, and Shoaib Bashir will all be returning.

ENGLAND playing XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (C), Jamie Smith, Brydon Carse, Matt Potts, Jack Leach and Shoaib Bashir.

PAKISTAN PLAYING XI

Pakistan have yet to announce their playing XI for the second test against England. However, former ODI and T20 captain Babar Azam has been dropped from the lineup, alongside fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah.