Ben Stokes injury: England men’s captain out for at least three months with torn hamstring | Cricket news

Ben Stokes has been ruled out of all cricket for at least three months with a torn left hamstring.

The injury occurred while bowling on the third day of the third Test in England’s recent 2-1 win over New Zealand.

The 33-year-old will undergo surgery in January, just months after being sidelined earlier this year with an injury to the same hamstring.

“Still something to overcome…carry on then,” Stokes wrote on social media.

“I still have a lot left in this tank and so much more blood, sweat and tears for my team and this shirt.

“There’s a reason I have a phoenix permanently imprinted on my body.”

Stokes missed four Tests after injuring himself 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 scored 66.3 overs during the tour of New Zealand – his highest in a single series as captain.

The next test for England is not until May 2025 when they face Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge.

England will also face India at home in a five-match Test series over the summer before they attempt to bring the Ashes back to Australia during the winter of 2025/26.

Stokes was forced to watch the closing stages of his team 423-run thrashing by New Zealand in Hamilton from the sidelines and after their defeat he promised to dig deep on his return from injury.

“No, I’m not holding back,” Stokes said after the series finale at Seddon Park.

“Obviously I was incredibly disappointed to go the other day, I was very emotional about the whole thing. But you sleep through it, you get the emotions out and you realize that every time you go out on the field as an athlete you’re putting yourself at risk of injury.

“I’ve worked really hard to get into the position to play the role I played in this game and it’s a law that for the first time in a while I feel like I’m young again, something happens.

“Every setback makes me come back stronger. There’s no doubt in my mind that I’m going to walk out of here, work as hard as I always have and get back to where I was. That’s my job.”

Hussain: England reduced when Stokes can’t bowl

Stokes’ injury has raised concerns about whether he is fit enough to carry out his duties as an all-rounder.

“Being a captain and an all-rounder, he’s so important to that team, but England are diminished when Stokes can’t bowl and when he misses Test matches,” Nasser Hussain said on Sky Sports News earlier this month.

“I think it should have been talked about in this test match that he bowled the 37th over when he was just coming back from a serious hamstring injury.

“The hamstring injuries at that age (33 years old) are recurring and he needs to be in shape over the summer and next winter.

“At some stage someone just needs to pat him on the back and say, ‘Look, I think you’ve done your part now. I think it’s just up to someone else to carry the burden.’

“The problem with England is that their other manufacturers have already struggled and their speeds have dropped.

“(Brydon) Carse was struggling, (Gus) Atkinson went down and (Matthew) Potts played in his first game of the series.”

Stokes will miss the start of a big year for England

England are scheduled to play six Test matches at home before traveling to Australia for the Ashes, with Stokes set to miss the start of an important year for England.

The England captain missed three Tests against Sri Lanka at home this year and one in Pakistan after tearing his hamstring playing for the Northern Superchargers in The Hundred.

One-off home Test in Zimbabwe (May)

• Thursday 22nd May – Sunday 25th May (11am) – Trent Bridge, Nottingham

Test series at home in India (June-July)

• First test: Friday 20 June – Tuesday 24 June (11am) – Headingley, Leeds
• Second test: Wednesday 2nd July – Sunday 6th July (11am) – Edgbaston, Birmingham
• Third test: Thursday 10 July – Monday 14 July (11am) – Lord’s, London
• The fourth test: Wednesday 23 July – Sunday 7 July (11am) – Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester
• Fifth test: Thursday 31 July – Monday 4 August (11am) – Kia Oval, London

Ashes in Australia (November 2025 – January 2026)

• First test: Friday 21 November – Tuesday 25 June (2.30am) – Optus Stadium, Perth
• Second test: Thursday 4 December – Monday 8 December (4.30am) – The Gabba, Brisbane
• Third test: Wednesday 17 December – Sunday 21 December (12 noon) – Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
• The fourth test: Thursday 25 December – Monday 29 December (11.30pm) – Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
• Fifth test: Sunday 4 January – Thursday 8 January (11.30pm) – Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney

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