England captain Ben Stokes is in doubt for his side’s three-match Test series against Sri Lanka after he suffered a suspected hamstring injury while playing in a domestic match on Sunday.
London :
Ben Stokes, the captain of England, is doubtful for his team’s three-match Test series against Sri Lanka since he appeared in a local match on Sunday and may have injured his hamstring. According to the ICC, Stokes was taken off the field during England’s The Hundred tournament between the Northern Superchargers and the Manchester Originals at Old Trafford when he pulled up sore while trying a fast single. Later, he made an appearance on crutches and went back to the team dugout to see the Superchargers defeat their other northern opponent by a slim margin of seven wickets.
The England captain will undergo tests on the injured region on Monday to determine the full nature of the injury, but colleague Harry Brook said the 33-year-old all-rounder is unlikely to play in the first Test against Sri Lanka, which is scheduled to start in Manchester on August 21.
According to ICC, Brook told Sky Sports, “It doesn’t look great unfortunately but I think he’ll be getting a scan tomorrow and see how he is.”
Vice-captain Ollie Pope might lead England in the first Test against Sri Lanka if Stokes is sidelined. England will be looking to win the series at home in order to gain more points toward qualifying for the ICC World Test Championship final the following year.
England will be eager to continue their recent 3-0 series whitewash of the West Indies to take sixth spot in the World Test Championship rankings when they play Sri Lanka.
After injuries prevented the great all-rounder from using the ball during the Ashes series against Australia last year and the away series with India earlier this year, Stokes made a triumphant return to the bowling crease during the West Indies series.
England will visit Pakistan in October for a three-match series against Shan Masood’s team, after three Test matches against Sri Lanka.
England squad to face Sri Lanka: Ben Stokes (c), Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Jordan Cox, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
Series schedule:
First Test: Old Trafford, August 21-25
Second Test: Lord’s, August 29-September 2
Third Test: The Oval, September 6-10.
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