England unchanged for first Test against Pakistan
England named an unchanged XI for the first Test against Pakistan, with uncertainty over Ben Stokes’ fitness meaning Zak Crawley missed out once again.
Stokes has been battling back from a quad injury and will not be asked to take up his share of bowling duties despite a lengthy workout in the middle, playing predominantly as a specialist batsman.
That means a pace bowling quartet of James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes and Jofra Archer is retained, leaving Sam Curran and Mark Wood on the sidelines.
We will bowl first in the first #raisethebat Test against Pakistan! 🏴🇵🇰#ENGvPAK
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 5, 2020
Pakistan captain Azhar Ali won the toss and opted to bat first, though England will take some encouragement from the dark clouds and early use of the floodlights.
Latest
-
NewsEngland will carefully manage ‘warrior’ Katherine Brunt, Heather Knight assures
Brunt, 36, almost single-handedly made a game of the third ODI against New Zealand on Tuesday.
-
NewsThe MCC replaces the word ‘batsman’ with ‘batter’ in the laws of cricket
2017 Wotld Cup winner Alex Hartley has suggested ‘nightwatcher’ should replace ‘nightwatchman’ and ‘third’ should be used instead of ‘third man’.
-
NewsHeather Knight accepts and understands Pakistan tour decision
The England Women captain says the decision was taken out of the team’s hands.
-
NewsNew Zealand keep series alive with three-wicket victory at Leicester
Katherine Brunt impressed for England but the hosts were beaten.
-
NewsBowlers shine as Lancashire bid to land Championship title
Hampshire were dismissed for 143 at Aigburth.
-
NewsECB acted alone in cancelling tour, says Britain’s high commissioner to Pakistan
Christian Turner appeared to distance the political establishment from the decision and insisting he supported the trip.
-
NewsRamiz Raja fears ‘West versus rest’ split in international cricket
The Pakistan Cricket Board chairman was responding to the cancellation of England’s tour next month.
-
NewsSecurity around England Women v NZ third ODI raised after ‘threatening email’
The game, at Leicestershire’s Uptonsteel County Ground, is due to go ahead as planned with a 1pm start.
-
NewsWhat was the safety issue and how has England’s decision gone down in Pakistan?
The ECB has pulled its men’s and women’s teams out of next month’s planned white-ball tour of Pakistan.
-
NewsEngland cancel Pakistan tour due to ‘mental and physical well-being’ concerns
PCB chair Ramiz Raja accused England of “failing a member of their cricket fraternity when it needed it most”.