(AFP Photo)
England’s Test cricket captain, Ben Stokes, will miss the forthcoming three-match series against Sri Lanka due to injury. As Stokes recovers, Ollie Pope, the team’s No. 3 batter, will step in as captain for the home series. Stokes, who recently guided England to a 3-0 victory over the West Indies, sustained his injury during a Hundred match on Sunday.
According to a statement released by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), “England Men’s Test Captain Ben Stokes has been ruled out for the rest of the summer after tearing his left hamstring while playing for the Northern Superchargers in The Hundred on Sunday.”
“As a result of the scans conducted in Leeds on Tuesday, Stokes will miss England’s three-match Rothesay Test series against Sri Lanka, which begins at Emirates Old Trafford on Wednesday, August 21. There will be no addition to the squad for this series.”
Stokes is targeting a return to action for England in the three-match Test series against Pakistan scheduled for October 2024.
“The all-rounder is aiming to return for England’s winter Test tour of Pakistan, scheduled to start in early October. The tour includes three Test matches in Multan, Karachi, and Rawalpindi. England batter Ollie Pope will captain the side in Ben’s absence,” the release added.
The opening Test of the series between England and Sri Lanka is scheduled to begin on August 21 in Manchester. The second Test will be held at Lord’s on August 29, with the final Test taking place at the Oval from September 6.
Following the series against Sri Lanka, England will host Australia for three T20 internationals and five ODIs before heading to Pakistan to compete in a three-match Test series under the leadership of Shan Masood.
The series opener is slated for Multan from October 7 to 11. The second Test will be held in Karachi from October 15 to 19, with the final match taking place at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from October 24 to 28.
England last visited Pakistan for a three-Test series in December 2022, where they, under Ben Stokes’ leadership, secured a 3-0 victory over Babar Azam’s team.
