ENG vs PAK 2026: 3 England players to watch out for

England take on Pakistan after having undergone somewhat of a 'reset' in their ranks. Ben Stokes' shock retirement in the third Test against New Zealand left the team with questions aplenty. Brendon McCullum joined him, stepping down as coach of the red-ball side.

With a new captain and the upcoming coaching appointment of Stephen Fleming, the series could shed light on the direction of the Three Lions' red-ball side after the fanfare and fervour of the Stokes-McCullum regime. The squad has undergone a shake-up, with returning faces once again looking to stake a claim for a spot in the new project.

Ben Stokes' retirement not only leaves England with a lack of leadership but also the absence of an all-rounder. The Durham man has been the side's 'balancer' for years, adding flexibility and quality on both fronts. In a left-field move, Surrey's Dan Lawrence is set to fill in the role at number six as the side's 'all-rounder'. Lawrence has been around the England set-up, making his debut in Sri Lanka in 2021, as an adept player of spin bowling. He last played for England as an opening batter in 2024, filling in for the injured Zak Crawley.

He has scored over 8,000 runs in the County Championship, of which 788 have come in eight matches this season. He has also scored five centuries and has a stellar red-ball track record behind him. His handy high-arm off-spin bowling has yielded 64 first-class wickets, with best figures of 4 for 91.