Ben Stokes has been ruled out of all cricket for at least three months due to a left hamstring injury.
The injury occurred while bowling on the third day of the third Test, which England recently won 2-1 against New Zealand.
The 33-year-old is scheduled to undergo surgery in January, just months after being sidelined with the same hamstring injury earlier this year.
“There’s something else to get over…then get on with it,” Stokes wrote on social media.
“There’s a lot more left in this tank, a lot more blood, sweat and tears to go through for our team and this shirt.
“There’s a reason I have a phoenix permanently tattooed on my body.”
Stokes has missed four Tests since picking up the injury at The Hundred and has also been ruled out of England’s white-ball tour of India and Pakistan’s Champions Trophy next year.
Stokes bowled 66.3 overs in the away series to New Zealand. This was the most he had bowled in a single series as captain.
Stokes suffered the injury during 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 are also scheduled to play a five-match Test series against India at home over the summer as they look to regain their Ashes in Australia for the winter of 2025/26.
Stokes had to watch his team’s final steps. New Zealand’s 423 thrashing After being sidelined and defeated in Hamilton, he vowed to dig deep when he returns from injury.
“No, I have no hesitation,” Stokes said after the series finale at Seddon Park.
“I was definitely incredibly disappointed when I left the field the other day and was very emotional about the whole thing, but you sleep on it, you bottle up your emotions and you realize that as an athlete, every time you go out on the field you are putting yourself out there and you are putting yourself at risk for injury.
“I’ve worked really hard to be in a position to play the role I’ve played in this game, and it’s kind of a rule that sometimes I feel like I’m young again.
“Every time I fail, I come back stronger. I have no doubt that I will walk away from here, work as hard as I always did, and get back to where I was. That’s my job.”
Hussain: If Stokes doesn’t bowl, England will shrink
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Sky Sports Cricket’s Nasser Hussain admits England are daunted by captain Stokes’ inability to bowl and need to talk to him about injury management.
Stokes’ injury has raised concerns about whether he is fit enough to fulfill his duties as an all-rounder.
“He is very important to the team as he is the captain and an all-rounder, but if Stokes cannot bowl and misses a Test match, England will be diminished,” Nasser Hussain said. Sky Sports News earlier this month.
“I think the story needs to be said in this Test match that he was bowled on 37 when he had just returned from a serious hamstring injury.
“At his age (33) he has recurring hamstring injuries and needs to be fit and active over the summer and next winter.
“At some stage someone needs to tap him on the shoulder and say: ‘I think you’ve done your job now. I think it’s up to someone else to carry the burden.’
“The problem for England is that other players are already struggling and have slowed down.
“(Brydon) Carse was having issues, (Gus) Atkinson was slowing down and (Matthew) Potts was playing in the first game of the series.”
Stokes misses start to crucial year for England
England will play six Test matches at home before heading to Australia for the Ashes and Stokes is set to miss the start of a crucial year for England.
The England skipper has missed three Tests at home against Sri Lanka and one in Pakistan this year after tearing his hamstring while playing for The Hundred’s Northern Superchargers.
One-off test in Zimbabwe home country (May)
- Thursday 22 May – Sunday 25 May (11am) – Nottingham Trent Bridge
India mainland Test series (June-July)
- First test: Friday 20 June – Tuesday 24 June (11am) – Headingley, Leeds
- Second test: Wednesday 2 July – Sunday 6 July (11am) – Edgbaston, Birmingham
- Third test: Thursday 10 July – Monday 14 July (11am) – Lord’s, London
- Fourth test: Wednesday 23 July – Sunday 7 July (11am) – Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester.
- Fifth test: Thursday 31 July – Monday 4 August (11am) – The Kia Oval, London
The 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 (12am) – Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
- 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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