England captain Ben Stokes, who limped off the field with a groin injury on the fourth day of the final Ashes Test against Australia, is now unlikely to bowl on the final day in Sydney.
Stokes, who has been the team’s most reliable bowling option throughout a difficult outing, taking 15 wickets at an average of 25.13, pulled up after 10 balls at the SCG on Wednesday morning, with Jacob Bethel scoring the over.
The 34-year-old headed to the locker room en route, with a team spokesperson later confirming he had a groin issue.
A short statement read: “Ben Stokes is currently undergoing tests for a right adductor condition. We will provide an update as soon as further information becomes available.”
Stokes wants to remain England captain after Ashes series defeat
Stokes staggers towards the bat, but it seems unlikely that he will bowl.
The captain, who has bowled 101.1 overs in this Ashes series, did not bat in his usual number six position until he was dismissed for a second-ball duck for a nasty hack to midwicket in the bottom of the second innings when England’s Will Jacks was promoted.
Stokes was set to bat at number eight, but was hampered by injury and was limited to just five deliveries, with England leading by 119 runs after Bethel’s brilliant first Test ton, ending the fourth day at 302-8 and being dismissed for just one run.
The captain will probably not feature on Thursday as England aim for a win to reduce the gap in the series to 3-2, but Bethel said: “I don’t think it bodes well for him bowling.”
Stokes becomes the fourth English seamer to suffer an injury during the season, with Mark Wood (knee) returning after one Test, Jofra Archer (side) playing three Tests and Gus Atkinson (hamstring) departing ahead of the series finale in Sydney.
The England captain has had to overcome knee, hamstring and shoulder injuries in recent years, which have kept him from playing the entirety of the team’s previous four Test series ahead of the Ashes.
Stokes recently signed a new England Central contract that commits him to the team until the end of the 2027 Home Ashes, and after this winter’s series defeat was confirmed, he said he wanted to remain as captain.
The all-rounder’s next action is likely to be in the home Test series against New Zealand in June, as he has no plans for white-ball cricket at the moment, but he could also feature in County Championship cricket for Durham before then.
Stokes took 15 wickets in this Ashes series at an average of 25.13.
Hussein: No wonder Stokes’ body broke.
Sky Sports’ Nasser Hussain has this to say about injured England captain Ben Stokes:
“He has a history of injuries but that’s the way Stokes plays cricket. He gives everything 100 per cent and never lets up.
“He’s probably a victim of himself and the management’s choices in this series. He’s bowled over 100 overs, he’s had an injury history, it’s going to be 35 degrees, 40 degrees on some pitches.
“Sydney should have had a spinner to bowl a few overs and Adelaide should have had a front-line spinner as well. That didn’t happen.
Stokes seems unlikely to bowl on the final day of the SCG
“So who has to do most of the work? As always, Stokes. The new-ball bowlers don’t have enough batting or length, so who has to do it? Stokes.
“By the end of the fifth Test his body was broken, but he puts himself out there so that’s good enough. But he wouldn’t have had it any other way.”
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