Pakistan v England: Mark Wood returns but Ben Foakes is absent in Multan
Pakistan v England: Mark Wood returns but Ben Foakes is absent in Multan
Location: Multan Dates: 9-13 December (05: 00 GMT)Cover: Match test ball per bullet Special commentary on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra, Radio 4 LW, online, tablets, mobiles and BBC Sport app. Live text commentary on the BBC Sport website. won the first test, which means there is no room for Ben Foakes.
Regular wicketkeeper Foakes missed the first test due to illness and his replacement Ollie Pope keeps the gloves.
England will seal their first series victory against Pakistan outside the UK in 22 years with a victory in Multan.
Wood hasn't played a Test since March due to an elbow injury that sidelined him for the summer at home.
"Having someone on your team who can play 150k/ is a huge bonus for any team in the world, especially since Pakistan is a very difficult place to come and win," England captain Ben Stokes said.
"Having someone of his caliber and what he brings will be huge for us. This will add to our ability to take 20 wickets."
This is a blow to Foakes, who was originally named in the XI for the first Test, only to be sent off on the morning of the match.
Stokes has repeatedly called the Surrey man 'the best wicket-keeper in the world' and says his failure to take this test has no bearing on his future prospects, despite Pope and injured Jonny Bairstow offering options behind the strains.
"The selection is just for this test," Stokes said. I'll keep saying he's the best keeper in the world, so it must seem silly for us not to pick him.
"Adding Mark Wood to the side gives us a better chance of taking 20 wickets.
"We told Ben not to. I don't take that as something for the future. We didn't have that on our radar until the disease he unfortunately had before the first test. It is certainly not a sign for his future."
Location: Multan Dates: 9-13 December (05: 00 GMT)Cover: Match test ball per bullet Special commentary on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra, Radio 4 LW, online, tablets, mobiles and BBC Sport app. Live text commentary on the BBC Sport website. won the first test, which means there is no room for Ben Foakes.
Regular wicketkeeper Foakes missed the first test due to illness and his replacement Ollie Pope keeps the gloves.
England will seal their first series victory against Pakistan outside the UK in 22 years with a victory in Multan.
Wood hasn't played a Test since March due to an elbow injury that sidelined him for the summer at home.
"Having someone on your team who can play 150k/ is a huge bonus for any team in the world, especially since Pakistan is a very difficult place to come and win," England captain Ben Stokes said.
"Having someone of his caliber and what he brings will be huge for us. This will add to our ability to take 20 wickets."
This is a blow to Foakes, who was originally named in the XI for the first Test, only to be sent off on the morning of the match.
Stokes has repeatedly called the Surrey man 'the best wicket-keeper in the world' and says his failure to take this test has no bearing on his future prospects, despite Pope and injured Jonny Bairstow offering options behind the strains.
"The selection is just for this test," Stokes said. I'll keep saying he's the best keeper in the world, so it must seem silly for us not to pick him.
"Adding Mark Wood to the side gives us a better chance of taking 20 wickets.
"We told Ben not to. I don't take that as something for the future. We didn't have that on our radar until the disease he unfortunately had before the first test. It is certainly not a sign for his future."
