Ben Stokes Out of First Test Against Pakistan, Brydon Carse to Make Debut

Ben Stokes will miss the first Test against Pakistan due to not being fully fit. / Getty

England captain Ben Stokes has been ruled out of the first Test against Pakistan, with Durham's Brydon Carse set to make his Test debut. 

Stokes, who has not played since early August, confirmed his absence after undergoing extensive rehabilitation. 

Although England had earlier suggested he was on track for the series, Stokes decided he wasn’t fit enough to play in the opening match, which starts on Monday in Multan.

Ollie Pope, who led England during their recent 2-1 series victory over Sri Lanka, will once again take over captaincy duties in Stokes' absence.

"I tried my hardest to get myself fit for this game, but I’ve not quite managed to get game-ready," 

Stokes told BBC Sport. He expressed frustration at missing the match but remains optimistic about returning for the second Test, scheduled to begin on October 15, though he admitted he is "not sure" if that timeline is realistic.

Brydon Carse, 29, steps in for his debut, just a month after completing a three-month ban for historical gambling offences. Despite placing 303 bets on cricket matches between 2017 and 2019, none of which involved games he participated in, Carse retained his England central contract and returned to the national team for a white-ball series against Australia in September.

Carse, known for his high pace and wicket-taking ability, has impressed teammates. 

England’s Joe Root said, 

"He’s a natural wicket-taker... someone who can potentially turn the game on its head."

Carse's inclusion comes ahead of fellow Durham seamer Matthew Potts and Olly Stone, with Stone set to leave the tour during the first Test for his wedding in the UK.

England’s playing XI will feature Chris Woakes and Gus Atkinson, both tasked with leading the pace attack in temperatures as high as 36°C. Zak Crawley returns to the opening spot after recovering from a broken finger, while spinner Jack Leach also makes his comeback, forming a spin duo with Shoaib Bashir.

England heads into the series on the back of a 3-0 clean sweep in Pakistan in 2022, marking the first time a visiting team achieved such a feat. Meanwhile, Pakistan, winless in their last 10 home Tests, recently suffered a 2-0 series loss to Bangladesh, adding pressure ahead of this critical contest.

England XI for the first Test against Pakistan: 

Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (captain), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith, Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir.