England vs Pakistan: 5 players from England to look out for in the 2nd Test

#3 Ben Stokes

Ben Stokes

Ben Stokes’ first Test match at home following his ouster from the England team last year was largely a fruitful one for the all-rounder.

He might not have looked like the best all-rounder in the world, but Stokes stood tall among the ruins.

In the first innings, he came in to bat at 100 for 4 and was playing a typically strokeful innings before he was trapped in front by Mohammad Abbas. He made 38 off 64 balls and hit 5 fours, along with a solitary six.

However, it was his performance with the ball that stood out, in an English effort in which the frontline pacers - James Anderson and Stuart Broad - struggled to make inroads into the Pakistani batting line-up.

Stokes bowled tirelessly, generated reverse swing and ended up as the team’s best bowler with figures of 3 for 73. He failed in the 2nd innings, but his overall performance in the Test is a positive for England and it remains to be seen if he can kick on and deliver a match-defining performance in the 2nd Test.