No finn but Stokes and Wood bring firepower

ENGLAND might have lost Steven Finn but in Ben Stokes and Mark Wood they have players ready to step into his shoes according to national selector James Whitaker.

Stokes played in the second Test against Pakistan before pulling up with a calf problem, and is initially expected to be used as just a batsman, while Wood returns from an ankle injury. That softens the blow of Finn’s absence, with a hamstring problem, and Whitaker has backed the duo to make a big impact for Eoin Morgan’s side in the five-match series.

“Ben’s made really significant progress over the last three weeks and our medical team are pleased,” said Whitaker. “He’s progressing nicely towards bowling over the next week or so, and while we hope that initially he might just play as a batter he will lead into the series as an all-rounder eventually.

“He’s worked really hard on his rehab and it’s given everyone a lot of confidence. To have him around again will be a huge bonus for Eoin Morgan and his team.”

While Wood and Stokes will have their part to play with the ball, there is also the question over England’s spin options, with Liam Dawson potentially in line for a spot. Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid may be above Dawson in the pecking order, but according to Whitaker the Hampshire spinner has every chance of being involved.

“He came into the squad for that one-off game and really impressed ,” Whitaker added.

“He’d previously impressed the coaches on the Performance Programme in the winter, and over the last two years he’s been very consistent for Hampshire. So it’s good for him and I’m really pleased he might get a go.”

For Pakistan Umar Gul and Yasir Shah are among the players to return to the squad, with Gul set for his first limited-overs appearance in more than a year after being preferred to Mohammad Irfan.