England have put their faith in a five-man bowling attack for the first Test against Sri Lanka at Old Trafford this week, handing Matthew Potts a recall and asking Chris Woakes to play as a designated all-rounder in the absence of Ben Stokes.
Stokes was present at training on Monday but, while the crutches required after he tore his hamstring during the Hundred were no longer on show, the 33-year-old will still be supporting Ollie Pope – plus a new vice-captain in Harry Brook – from the sidelines for the three-match series that gets under way on Wednesday.
