England hasn't taken a final decision on Ben Stokes' bowling fitness, which could once again influence the team's final XI. A quad injury meant that the all-rounder didn't bowl in the final Test against the West Indies and played as a specialist batsman. 

Inadvertently, England left out Zak Crawley and went in with an extra bowler instead, which might be repeated in the opening Test against Pakistan, starting Wednesday (August 5) in Manchester, with skipper Joe Root and coach Chris Silverwood averse to any risk on their star cricketer's injury.

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"We still need to know a bit more about where Ben is at," said Root at the pre-match presser on Stokes, who bowled in the nets on Monday but couldn't the following day. "Because of the weather he wasn't able to bowl outside so we'll probably wait on that tonight and make a decision in the morning (Wednesday)."

"Ben being able to do everything he can do is huge for this team and it shows how pivotal he is, but if he's not fit there are a number of ways we can go."

Root knows while he is always ready to do anything for the team, Stokes will provide him and Silverwood an honest assessment of where he is at because it could well hurt the team if he doesn't. 

"He's (Stokes is) so committed to the team and the cause that he will always put his body on the line," the captain said. "I suppose the more he's played, the older he's got, the maturer he's got, he has got better at understanding that there are limitations to what he can do sometimes, even though those limitations are probably further for him than for other players."

But if Stokes is ready to bowl, the side could have its most potent pace attack in a long time. The decision then will be whether to retain off-spinner Dom Bess in the side or bring back Crawley. In case they do both, the team management will be left with a very difficult decision to make on its main fast bowling unit, where it won't be an easy conversation telling any of James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Jofra Archer or Chris Woakes to sit out. 

"I couldn't be happier to have so many headaches," Root said. "To have such strength in depth is really pleasing and long may it continue."

On a talented but slightly inexperienced Pakistan side, the home team captain said, "I think it is really important we don't take that for granted. We are very aware Pakistan are a talented team and very 'up' for this series."

(Inputs from AFP)