England plan to stay with Ollie Pope behind the stumps for the second Test against Pakistan in Multan from Friday.
If Pope keeps the gloves, that will make room for point guard Mark Wood.
Pope replaced the ailing Ben Foakes for the thrilling first Test, which England won by 74 points.
“We found ourselves in this situation and still chose a team that was strong enough to win. We will consider all of our options,” said captain Ben Stokes.
Pope, 24, kept the wicket for only the second time in Test cricket after Surrey team-mate Foakes was ruled out on the morning of the first Test at Rawalpindi.
He scored a century at bat at number three in England’s first innings. He had a mixed game with the gloves, losing a hold in Pakistan’s opening innings and failing to take the lead as England needed just one wicket to win.
However, he also took a clever stumping on the fourth morning and a spectacular acrobatic catch as England pushed for victory on the final afternoon.
England, who can seal their first series victory against Pakistan outside the UK for 22 years in the second Test, will certainly make a switch after the all-rounder Liam Livingstone was ruled out of the tour due to a knee injury.
Wood, 32, has not played a Test since March due to an elbow injury that kept him out of the summer on home soil.
One option would be for Wood’s inclusion to be the only change, with Foakes absent. If both Wood and Foakes play, versatile spin bowler Will Jacks could fit in.
Pace bowlers James Anderson and Ollie Robinson, who undertook a huge workload to bowl in Pakistan last afternoon in Rawalpindi, look likely to bowl again.
“There are a few different options that we’re going to put in front of each other and try to figure out which is the best option to try and win this test match,” Stokes said.
One factor that could affect the selection is early morning fog in Multan, which has the potential to delay the scheduled 10 a.m. local time (0500 GMT) departure.
It raises the prospect of a day shortened at both ends – poor light brought play to a halt before the scheduled close of each of the first four matchdays in Rawalpindi.
“We’ll find a way to pick a team that we think is the best to win the game, with those two things: potentially delayed tee time and coming in early because of the light,” Stokes said.
Stokes, 31, has now won seven from eight Tests since taking over as captain at the start of the summer on home soil.
Rawalpindi’s victory was the most extreme example of England’s ultra-positive approach under Stokes, thanks not only to a quick score but also an ambitious statement and creative conjuration of 20 Pakistani wickets on an incredibly dish.
And the all-rounder says his side may have to go even more radical in Multan if local conditions take a long time out of the test.
“If it goes as it should, with a late start and early finish, we could end up having only 300-350 overs in the test match,” Stokes said.
“We may have to get even more adventurous with what we do.”
