PAK vs ENG, 2nd Test: Mark Wood replaces Liam Livingstone; Ollie Pope to keep wickets

Mark Wood will replace Livingstone [Source: Twitter]

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have announced England's playing XI for the second Test at Multan against Pakistan, beginning tomorrow. Fast bowler Mark Wood replaces Liam Livingstone from the Rawalpindi Test, which England won by 74 runs, to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Livingstone has been ruled out of the series following a knee injury. Wicketkeeper Ben Foakes continues to sit out as Ollie Pope will again don the keeping gloves. Foakes missed the first Test after falling ill on the eve of the match.

Ben Stokes-led side will look to clinch the Multan Test and gain an unassailable 2-0 lead, in hopes of handing England their first series win on Pakistani soil after 22 years.

Wood, 32, will be playing his first Test for England since March 2022 and is making a comeback from an elbow injury. 

Interestingly, this will be Pakistan's first Test at Multan since 2004, where India won a famous encounter.

Pakistan themselves are facing injury concerns, with pacer Haris Rauf being ruled out. It is expected that Hasan Ali or Muhammad Abbas might get drafted in the XI.

The third and final Test is scheduled for December 17 in Karachi.

England XI: 

Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (wk), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Will Jacks, Jack Leach, Ollie Robinson, James Anderson, and Mark Wood.

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