England’s Test debutant Ben Duckett faces an anxious wait to determine his availability for the remainder of the first Test against Pakistan in Multan. Duckett suffered a suspected dislocation of his left thumb while fielding at slip on the opening day, casting doubt over his ability to bat.
The incident occurred when Pakistan’s No. 11, Abrar Ahmed, steered a short ball from Joe Root straight into Duckett’s thumb. Duckett initially held onto the catch but immediately grimaced in pain and received treatment from England’s doctor.
Ollie Pope replaced Duckett as opener alongside Zak Crawley, but England remained cautious in their batting approach, reaching 96 for 1 at the close of the 20-over stint. An England spokesperson expressed hope that Duckett’s injury would subside overnight, but it remains uncertain whether he will be fit to bat on the third day.
Duckett’s absence would be a significant blow for England, who have opted to field a six-batter, five-bowler lineup in the absence of Ben Stokes. Duckett was England’s second-highest run-scorer in their 3-0 series whitewash in Pakistan two years ago and has emerged as a key player since his recall.
Stokes, who is targeting a comeback in the second Test, stepped up his recovery on Tuesday. He took slip catches, ran at high intensity, and bowled three overs at tea, with James Anderson observing.
England’s resources for the second Test are already stretched, with Olly Stone unlikely to feature after returning home for his wedding. If Duckett is unavailable, he could be replaced by Jordan Cox or Stokes, necessitating a reshuffled batting order.
