Ben Stokes is on Track for Full Recovery

Ben Stokes is making steady progress in his recovery from a hamstring injury, with the aim of returning to full fitness in time for England's Test series against Pakistan in October. Stokes sustained the injury to his left hamstring two and a half weeks ago while playing for Northern Superchargers in the Hundred, which ruled him out for the remainder of the summer. Despite this, he has stayed close to the England squad during their series against Sri Lanka and has been practising his batting in the nets at Lord's ahead of the second Test.

England is set to arrive in Pakistan on October 2, with the first Test scheduled five days later in Multan. Their last tour to Pakistan in 2022 ended in a 3-0 victory, during which Stokes bowled only 35 overs due to managing a chronic knee issue. His full recovery before this upcoming tour would be a significant advantage for the team.

Stokes expressed his eagerness to return to action, describing his comeback as "scratching an itch." He mentioned in an ECB video that his recovery is progressing well, although it's still early in the rehab process. Stokes pointed out his desire to return as quickly as possible, crediting the support of the medical team for helping him make steady progress.

Ollie Pope, who is currently serving as England's stand-in captain, expressed confidence that Stokes would be in top form for the winter tours to Pakistan and New Zealand. Pope noted that while Stokes is still some time away from playing, it's been encouraging to see him back around the squad. He added that injuries, though challenging, offer players a chance to reflect and improve, and he's sure that Stokes is using this time wisely.

Zak Crawley, also sidelined for the Sri Lanka series due to a broken finger, visited Lord's on Tuesday with his finger in a splint. Like Stokes, Crawley is aiming for a return in time for the Pakistan tour, though he won’t be able to resume batting until later in the month. Pope commented that it's great to have players like Crawley around, as it reflects the close-knit nature of the squad and contributes to their success on the field.

Mark Wood is another key player missing from the Sri Lanka series due to injury. He has been replaced by Olly Stone for the second Test at Lord's. Pope, who played alongside Stone at London Spirit in the Hundred, believes that Stone can replicate Wood's impact as a high-pace bowler, even if he may not quite reach Wood's top speeds. Pope expressed excitement for Stone's return to the team, acknowledging the hard work he has put in after a long injury layoff.

Stokes praised Pope for transitioning into his temporary captaincy role "seamlessly" and mentioned that he enjoyed watching from the dressing room in Manchester. He admitted that he was surprisingly calm during the game, noting that being outside the heat of the moment offers a different perspective.