England v Pakistan: talking points from a thrilling first Test | Tim de Lisle

Ben Stokes was sorely missed the last time he was absent but he has not been his superhuman self in the past two Tests With difficulty. The last time he was absent for more than the odd Test was in the 2017-18 Ashes, when he was helping Bristol police with their inquiries. England lost 4-0, and it was hard to say what they missed most – Stokes’s batting, his bowling or his blazing presence. This summer, though, they’ve already had to do without him to an extent. In the third Te