Ben Stokes’ England takes on Pakistan in a three-Test series starting Monday. They enter the series with confidence, remembering their astonishing 3-0 sweep over Pakistan in 2022. England ranks third in the world after winning five of their last six Tests. Conversely, Pakistan is struggling after a crushing defeat to Bangladesh.
Last month, England secured a 2-1 series victory against Sri Lanka. Notably, they did this without skipper Ben Stokes, who remains the team’s leader. Unfortunately, the 33-year-old all-rounder will miss the first Test due to a torn hamstring. It remains uncertain whether he will bowl when he returns.
Stokes’s Role
Stokes’ role as a specialist batsman could change England’s balance. In the recent Sri Lanka series, they opted for five frontline bowlers. The visitors might replace one of their top-order batsmen with Stokes, but it’s likely they will field four specialist bowlers. Joe Root’s off-spin may supplement the bowling attack.
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Although Stokes has not played for two months, he showed his value against the West Indies, scoring three fifties in four innings. England’s 2022 tour of Pakistan marked the beginning of the “Bazball” era, a high-risk, aggressive style promoted by coach Brendon McCullum. They set the series tone in Rawalpindi, scoring an astonishing 506-4 on the first day.
Retired England great Stuart Broad believes this aggressive style will work in Pakistan. He emphasizes that England’s batting lineup excels against spin. However, the era of Broad and James Anderson has ended. England is now developing a new pace attack. With Mark Wood sidelined, Chris Woakes is the senior paceman. Yet, inexperience could be a major concern for the visitors. Broad warns that relying on inexperienced bowlers could lead to quick defeats.
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