Ben Duckett Expected to Bat Despite Injury

Despite suffering a thumb injury during the first Test in Multan, England expects opener Ben Duckett to be fit to bat on day three. Duckett hurt his thumb, potentially dislocating it, while taking a catch to dismiss Pakistan's number 11, Abrar Ahmed. After receiving treatment on the field, Duckett did not return to bat at the start of England's response to Pakistan's imposing 556-run total.

In his absence, Ollie Pope opened the innings but was dismissed for a duck. However, Zak Crawley and Joe Root managed to steady the innings, guiding England to 96-1 by the end of the day.

Fast bowler Brydon Carse reassured fans by saying that Duckett is expected to be fine. Carse explained that Duckett had taken a knock, but would be assessed overnight and should be ready to bat the following day.

Although Duckett was not fit to bat on Tuesday evening, England has confirmed that no scan is necessary, and there are no plans to shift his position in the batting order since his injury was external. 

Duckett has become a crucial player for England since being recalled for the 2022 tour of Pakistan, after a six-year hiatus from Test cricket. Since his return, only teammate Joe Root has scored more than his 1,718 Test runs globally. Should Duckett’s injury prove more severe, England has Jordan Cox as a reserve batter, though his absence could also allow captain Ben Stokes to return to the lineup.

Stokes, who is missing his fourth consecutive Test due to a hamstring injury, has been working hard on his recovery. On Tuesday, he completed an intense running session, followed by 40 minutes of batting practice and bowling three overs during the tea interval.

Meanwhile, England faces other challenges with pace bowler Josh Hull already ruled out of the tour due to a quad injury. Additionally, Olly Stone will be returning to the UK on Saturday to get married, which means he will likely miss the second Test. This leaves Matthew Potts as England's sole back-up seamer, limiting their options for rotation after spending 149 overs in the field during Pakistan’s first innings. At present, there are no plans to call up another fast bowler.

For Brydon Carse, his debut in Test cricket proved demanding. The Durham bowler secured his first Test wickets, dismissing Naseem Shah and trapping Ameer Jamal leg before. Carse described the conditions as extremely tough over the past two days but expressed satisfaction with picking up a couple of wickets, acknowledging the hard work it took.

As England prepares for day three, Carse stated that the team would rest and look to bat positively to pressure Pakistan’s bowlers.