London :
England’s captain Ben Stokes is facing uncertainty for the upcoming three-match Test series against Sri Lanka after sustaining a suspected hamstring injury during a domestic match on Sunday. Stokes was injured while playing for the Northern Superchargers in England’s The Hundred competition and had to leave the field. He is set to undergo scans on Monday to assess the extent of the injury, raising doubts about his availability for the opening Test against Sri Lanka scheduled for 21 August.
Teammate Harry Brook expressed concerns about Stokes’ injury, stating, “It doesn’t look great unfortunately but I think he’ll be getting a scan tomorrow and see how he is.” If Stokes is ruled out of the first Test, vice-captain Ollie Pope could potentially lead the England team in his absence.
England, currently sixth in the World Test Championship standings, will be aiming to continue their winning momentum against Sri Lanka after a successful series sweep against the West Indies. Stokes had recently returned to bowling during the West Indies series after being sidelined due to injuries in previous campaigns.
Following the series against Sri Lanka, England is scheduled to play against Pakistan in October. The England squad for the Sri Lanka series includes key players like Joe Root, Chris Woakes, and 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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@Cricbun
