Stokes fit to captain England against Zimbabwe

LONDON: Ben Stokes was given the all-clear to captain England in their one-off Test against Zimbabwe later this month as he was named in a 13-man squad announced Friday.

The 33-year-old all-rounder has been recovering from hamstring surgery after breaking down in New Zealand in December, his second hamstring tear in five months. Stokes has not featured for county side Durham so far this season but is set to skipper England in the opening Test of their home season, which is a four-day game rather than the standard five, at Trent Bridge from May 22 to 25.

England selector Luke Wright expects Stokes, a lively seamer, to play a full part with both bat and ball against Zimbabwe even though he is not due to play any competitive cricket before the Test.

“All things being equal, he´s going to be fine to play a full part,” Wright said. “We might have to restrict him bowling a certain amount of overs just to be careful with him coming back but he will be at full pace.

“He´s been non-stop now in the nets getting ready, he´s ready and raring to go and excited about getting stuck in.” Uncapped Essex seamer Sam Cook is also in the squad and could be in line for a Test debut in Nottingham, with pacemen Mark Wood, Brydon Carse, Chris Woakes and Olly Stone all injured.

Express quick Jofra Archer is not yet considered ready for red-ball international cricket. Cook, 27, has taken 318 first-class wickets at an impressive average of under 20, though doubts have persisted over whether he is quick enough to be effective at Test level.

But Cook, with England greats James Anderson and Stuart Broad retired, and Woakes out of action, could now fill the vacancy in the attack for an accurate swing and seam bowler of lesser pace.