‌ENG vs PAK | Stokes returns after injury as England announces playing XI for second Test

Following their thumping victory to earn four back-to-back wins against Pakistan at their home, England aims to seal the deal with two major amendments. Regular captain Stokes is all set to embark on a comeback journey, having missed out on the Sri Lanka series at home and the first Test against Pakistan. In addition, Matt Potts have been named for the second Test with Gus Atkinson and Chris Woakes making way for the Durham duo due to workload management. 

Stokes was deemed fit to participate in the second Test at the same venue where England batters enjoyed their time with the Willow last week. He was seen batting and bowling in the nets on the sidelines during the first Test. 

While the Three Lions retained the Somerset spin duo of Shoaib Bashir and Jack Leach, they’ve announced an all-out Durham pace attack with Brydon Carse, Potts, and Stokes in the mix. Carse was decent in the last Test, scalping four wickets for 140 runs in 38 overs across both innings. 

Joe Root smashed a double ton in the last Test in Multan while Harry Brook stockpiled a triple hundred, his career-best in the format. 

England have 45.59 percentage points and are standing fourth in the 2023-25 World Test Championship points table whereas Pakistan are reeling at the bottom with 16.67 percentage points.

England Playing XI for second Test: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Brydon Carse, Matthew Potts, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir.