Ben Stokes has been ruled out of all cricket for at least three months due to a torn left hamstring.
The injury occurred while bowling on day three of the third Test in England’s recent 2-1 series victory over New Zealand.
The 33-year-old will undergo surgery in January, just months after he was sidelined by an injury on the same hamstring earlier this year.
Stokes missed out on four Tests after he was injured during The Hundred and has been ruled out of England’s white-ball tour of India next year, as well as the Champions Trophy in Pakistan.
Stokes had bowled 66.3 overs during the New Zealand away series – his most in a single series as captain.
England’s next Test is not until May 2025 when they face Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge.
Stokes was forced to watch the final stages of his side’s 423-run thrashing by New Zealand in Hamilton from the sidelines and following their defeat he vowed to dig deep on his return from injury.
“No, I ain’t holding back,” Stokes said after the series finale at Seddon Park.
“I was obviously incredibly disappointed walking off the other day, I was very emotional about the whole thing. But you sleep on it, take the emotion out and realise that every time you walk out on the field as an athlete you’re putting yourself at risk of injury.
“I worked really hard to get myself in a position to play the role I did in this game and it’s just sod’s law that the first time in a while I feel like I’m young again something happens.
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Sky Sports Cricket’s Nasser Hussain says England are diminished when captain Ben Stokes cannot bowl and admits there needs to be a conversation with him surrounding injury management
“Every setback, I come back stronger. There’s no doubt I’ll be going away from here, working hard as I always do and getting myself back to where I was. That’s my job.
More to follow…