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.
Stokes was injured in England’s third Test in New Zealand this month
England’s next Test is not until May 2025 when they face Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge.
England will also face India at home in a five-match series during the summer before they attempt to regain the Ashes in Australia over the 2025/26 winter.
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.
“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.”
Hussain: England are diminished when Stokes can’t bowl
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Sky Sports Cricket’s Nasser Hussain says England are diminished when captain Stokes cannot bowl and admits there needs to be a conversation with him surrounding injury management
Stokes’ injury has raised concerns about whether he is fit enough to perform his duties as an all-rounder.
“Because he is a captain and an all-rounder, he is so important to that team, but England are diminished when Stokes can’t bowl and when he misses Test matches,” said Nasser Hussain on Sky Sports News earlier this month.
“I do think there needed to be a conversation in this Test match about him bowling the 37th over when he’s just coming back from a serious hamstring injury.
“Hamstring injuries at that age [33 years old] are recurring and you need him to be firing fit in the summer and next winter.
“At some stage someone just needs to tap him on the shoulder and say: ‘Look I think you’ve done your bit now. I think it’s up to someone else just to carry a burden’.
“The problem with England is that their other seamers were already also struggling and their speeds were down.
“[Brydon] Carse was carrying niggles, [Gus] Atkinson’s speeds were down and [Matthew] Potts was playing in his first game of the series.”
Stokes to miss start of big year for England
England are due to play six Test matches at home before they head to Australia for the Ashes, with Stokes set to miss the start of an important year for England.
The England skipper missed three Tests against Sri Lanka at home this year and one in Pakistan after tearing his hamstring playing for Northern Superchargers in The Hundred.
One-off Test at home to Zimbabwe (May)
- Thursday May 22-Sunday May 25 (11am) – Trent Bridge, Nottingham
Test series at home to India (June-July)
- First Test: Friday June 20-Tuesday June 24 (11am) – Headingley, Leeds
- Second Test: Wednesday July 2-Sunday July 6 (11am) – Edgbaston, Birmingham
- Third Test: Thursday July 10-Monday July 14 (11am) – Lord’s, London
- Fourth Test: Wednesday July 23-Sunday July 7 (11am) – Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester
- Fifth Test: Thursday July 31-Monday August 4 (11am) – The Kia Oval, London
The Ashes in Australia (November 2025-January 2026)
- First Test: Friday November 21-Tuesday June 25 (2.30am) – Optus Stadium, Perth
- Second Test: Thursday December 4-Monday December 8 (4.30am) – The Gabba, Brisbane
- Third Test: Wednesday December 17-Sunday December 21 (12am) – Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
- Fourth Test: Thursday December 25-Monday December 29 (11.30pm) – Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
- Fifth Test: Sunday January 4-Thursday January 8 (11.30pm) – Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
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