England Captain Ben Stokes Sustains Injury, Doubts Over Sri Lanka Test Series
On Sunday, England captain Ben Stokes sustained an injury while playing for Northern Superchargers in the Hundred competition, casting doubt on his participation in the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka. Stokes had to be helped off the field after pulling up while running between the wickets during Superchargers’ chase of a 153-run target against Manchester Originals at Old Trafford.
The 33-year-old all-rounder made two runs from four balls before being forced to retire hurt, with his England teammate Harry Brook taking his place. Stokes appeared to clutch his left hamstring as he completed a quick single, and was visibly frustrated, punching his right thigh before being assisted by the Superchargers staff as he slowly walked off the field.
“After being helped from the pitch, Stokes was placed on a stretcher and wheeled towards an ambulance, but later returned to the dugout. A Superchargers spokesperson stated that Stokes’ hamstring is currently being assessed, with further updates expected on Monday.”
England are already without Zak Crawley for the Sri Lanka series due to a fractured finger, with Dan Lawrence set to fill in as a makeshift opener and Jordan Cox called up as batting cover. If Stokes is ruled out, Ollie Pope, the vice-captain, would lead the team in his first international cricket outing as captain.
Stokes’ absence would be a significant blow for England, as his presence in the lineup during the recent 2-0 series win against West Indies helped provide much-needed balance, with the all-rounder able to bowl again after undergoing winter surgery on his troublesome left knee.
After the Sri Lanka series, England will have a short turnaround before heading to Pakistan for a three-Test tour, the first of which starts in Multan on October 7.
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