England has officially announced its 17-member squad for the highly anticipated Test series against Pakistan. This series is set to commence on October 7, 2024, and will see the experienced Ben Stokes captain the team as he returns from an injury layoff. Stokes’ leadership and performance will be crucial, especially after his absence in the recent Test series against Sri Lanka.
Key Changes in the England Squad
The squad features the return of Jack Crowley, who is set to make a significant impact following his previous performances. Notably, Dan Lawrence, who has an impressive record with 17 centuries in first-class cricket, has been left out due to his inconsistent performances in international cricket. Meanwhile, Tom Hartley also faces exclusion from the team. In an exciting development, England has welcomed two uncapped players—Jordan Cox and Brydon Carse—who are expected to bring fresh talent to the squad during the tour.
Complete England Test Squad
The full England Test squad for the Pakistan tour includes:
- Ben Stokes (Captain)
- Rehan Ahmed
- Gus Atkinson
- Shoaib Bashir
- Harry Brook
- Brydon Carse
- Jordan Cox
- Zak Crawley
- Ben Duckett
- Josh Hull
- Jack Leach
- Ollie Pope
- Matthew Potts
- Joe Root
- Jamie Smith
- Ollie Stone
- Chris Woakes
Pakistan-England Test Series Schedule
The upcoming Test series will kick off on October 7, but the specific venues for the matches are yet to be confirmed. According to reports, the first Test is expected to take place in Multan, with subsequent matches scheduled in Karachi and Rawalpindi. However, there are concerns that one of the Test matches may be relocated outside of Pakistan due to incomplete stadium preparations.
Recent History: England Dominates Pakistan
England’s recent tours to Pakistan have been fruitful, notably winning the last series in a commanding 3-0 sweep. The victory margins in the last tour were significant, with England winning by 74 runs in Rawalpindi, followed by narrow victories of 26 runs in Multan and 8 wickets in Karachi. This solid performance has elevated expectations for England’s upcoming tour.
Challenges Ahead for Pakistan
As the series approaches, Pakistan finds itself in a challenging position. The home team has struggled significantly in recent Test matches, failing to secure a victory in their last ten matches. Their recent defeat in a two-match Test series against Bangladesh, where they lost 2-0, has raised concerns about their ability to compete against a strong England side. The pressure will be on Pakistan to turn their fortunes around and perform at home.
🦁 Happy with our squad?
#PAKvENG | #EnglandCricket pic.twitter.com/VBAryp083p
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) September 10, 2024
