Stokes spent the first 45 minutes of England’s training session doing shuttle runs with Peter Sim, the strength and conditioning coach. He later batted in the nets, facing spin from Rehan Ahmed and local net-bowlers as well as throwdowns from England’s coaching staff, but is taking a cautious approach to his recovery.
England are expected to confirm their XI later on Saturday, two days out from the first Test. They are likely to pick two spinners, with Jack Leach playing his first international match since January alongside Shoaib Bashir, while Gus Atkinson has shaken off a thigh niggle and is in line to play his first overseas Test.
Carse is set to pip his Durham team-mate Matthew Potts to the final spot in England’s seam attack. Both bowlers impressed in their recent ODI series against Australia, taking eight wickets each, but England appear to have chosen Carse for his extra pace and superior batting. Olly Stone, who played two Tests against Sri Lanka, is also set to miss out.
Having missed most of the summer due to a gambling ban, Carse regularly hit 90mph/145kph during Australia’s tour and has impressed England’s players in the nets. “He’s a natural wicket-taker,” Joe Root said. “He’s got those balls in him that, out of nowhere, on the flattest of wickets, you can make something happen… He offers a huge amount to the squad.”
Matt Roller is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. @mroller98
Source: ESPN Crickinfo