Ben Stokes has been ruled out of 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 series win over New Zealand.
The 33-year-old will undergo surgery in January, several months after he was sidelined earlier this year with the same hamstring injury.
“Something else to overcome… carry on then,” Stokes wrote on social media.
“I have a lot more left in this tank and a lot more blood, sweat and tears to go through for my team and this jersey.
“There’s a reason I have my phoenix permanently inked on my body.”
Stokes missed four Tests after he was injured during The Hundred and was ruled out of England’s tour of India next year as well as the Champions Trophy in Pakistan.
Stokes bowled 66.3 overs during the New Zealand away series, his most in a single series as a 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 Test series in the summer before they look to regain the Ashes in Australia in the winter of 2025/26.
Stokes had to watch his team’s last innings 423-run thrashing by New Zealand After the side and their defeat at Hamilton, he vowed to dig deep after returning from injury.
“No, I’m not holding back,” Stokes said after the streak ended at Seddon Park.
“Obviously I was incredibly disappointed when I left the other day, I was very excited about it all. But you sleep on it, take the emotion out and realize that every time you go out on the field as an athlete, you putting yourself at risk of injury.
“I worked really hard to get myself into the role that I played in this game, and it’s just the law that for the first time in a while, I feel like I’m young again, something is happening. has
“Every setback, I come back stronger. There’s no doubt I’ll leave here, work hard like I always do and get back to where I was. That’s my job.”
Hussain: England shrink when Stokes fails to bowl
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Sky Sports Cricket’s Nasser Hussain says England are weakened when captain Stokes fails to bowl and admits he needs to have a conversation about his injury battle.
Stokes’ injury has raised concerns about whether he is fit enough to fulfill his duties as an all-rounder.
“Because he’s a captain and an all-rounder, he’s so important to that team, but England are weakened when Stokes can’t bowl and when he misses Test matches,” Nasser Hussain said. Sky Sports News earlier this month.
“I think there should be talk in this Test match that he’s bowling 37 when he’s just coming back from a serious hamstring injury.
“At that age (33) hamstring injuries are recurring and you need him to be fit in the summer and next winter.
“At some stage, somebody just has to tap him on the shoulder and say, ‘Hey!’ “Look, I think you’ve done your job now. I think it’s just someone else’s job to carry.”
“England’s problem is that their other seamers were also struggling and their pace was low.
“(Brydon) Carrs was carrying niggles, (Gus) Atkinson’s speed was off and (Matthew) Potts was playing in his first game of the series.”
Stokes will miss the start of England’s big year
England have six Test matches at home before they travel to Australia for the Ashes and Stokes will miss the start of a crucial year for England.
The England captain missed three Tests against Sri Lanka at home this year and one in Pakistan after tearing his hamstring while playing in The Hundred for the Northern Superchargers.
One-off Test at home in Zimbabwe (May)
- Thursday 22 May – Sunday 25 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 July 2-Sunday July 6 (11am) – Edgbaston, Birmingham
- Third test. Thursday 10 July – Monday 14 July (11am) – Lord’s, London
- Fourth test. Wednesday July 23 – Sunday July 7 (11:00) – Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester
- Fifth test. Thursday 31 July – Monday 4 August (11am) – 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, December 4 – Monday, December 8 (04.30) – The Gabba, Brisbane
- Third test. Wednesday December 17-Sunday December 21 (12pm) – 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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