Stokes ‘hurting’ with how Pak series has unfolded, says McCullum
England head coach Brendon McCullum said captain Ben Stokes will be "hurting" after the 2-1 Test series defeat against Pakistan.
The historic Test series between England and Pakistan, which will start on December 1 in Rawalpindi, has apparently been hampered, as at least a dozen members of the England contingent are sick with a virus.
England is travelling to Pakistan for the first time in 17 years for a three-Test series.
A report in the Daily Mail on Wednesday stated that less than 24 hours before the first ball is bowled, at least a dozen players in Ben Stokes’ party have been knocked out by the bug.
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According to the report, it is unknown whether England will be required to change the lineup they announced on Tuesday.
We have named our XI for our first Men’s Test against Pakistan!
A Test debut for @liaml4893
Welcome back @benduckett1#PAKvENG pic.twitter.com/Clellsv9C4
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) November 29, 2022
On the other side white ball specialist, Liam Livingstone has got his call for test side, if everything goes as per plan the 29-year-old all-rounder will make his debut in Stokes’ lineup for the game on Tuesday.
The report also stated that there is a good chance that everyone will be able to recover in time for the start of the cricket match. Although the bug is not believed to be related to food, England has hired their own chef for the tour, according to the same report.
A team representative reportedly informed Daily Mail that the symptoms are unrelated to Covid.
Only five England players — Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook and Keaton Jennings — who are not part of the playing XI for the opening Test attended the optional nets session at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.
A few days back England red ball skipper, Ben Stokes announced that he will donate his pakistan tour match fees to pakistan’s flood victims.
(inputs from IANS)
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