Test captain Ben Stokes suffered hamstring injury six-and-a-half weeks ago when playing for Northern Superchargers in The Hundred; ECB said Wednesday's planned scans were "positive"; England's three-Test tour of Pakistan begins with first Test in Multan from October 7
Wednesday 25 September 2024 19:49, UK
England Test captain Ben Stokes is "on track" to feature in his side's three-Test series in Pakistan next month following scans on his hamstring injury.
Having missed the summer Test series against Sri Lanka, the ECB confirmed the results of Wednesday's planned scans were "positive".
Stokes suffered the injury six-and-a-half weeks ago when playing for Northern Superchargers in The Hundred.
Speaking to Sky Sports during England's third ODI win over Australia at Durham, the 33-year-old all-rounder was in good spirits ahead of the scan but admitted that the prospect of him bowling in Pakistan was unlikely, even if passed fit.
"Rehab has gone really well," Stokes said on Tuesday. "Hopefully tomorrow everything gets the all clear and we can start pushing it a bit more.
"In terms of bowling, there's a lot more than just my hamstring that I need to get back firing - you use everything.
"I need to get that all right to make sure I don't do any more damage to any other parts of my body."
The Pakistan Cricket Board have announced the full match schedule for the men's Test series against England in October.
The three-Test tour begins in Multan for the first Test that will take place from October 7-11. The second Test remains in Multan following a revised plan from October 15-19.
The third Test will be in Rawalpindi from October 24-28.
The series forms part of the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 and will be the second time the England men's team have played a Test series in Pakistan in the last two years, with England having won the last series 3-0 in December 2022.
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