Islamabad, Jan 8: England’s Test captain, Ben Stokes, revealed on Tuesday that he had recently undergone surgery on his torn left hamstring, an injury sustained during the third Test against New Zealand in Hamilton. The 33-year-old all-rounder’s injury occurred during England’s final game of 2024, which now leaves him with a three-month recovery period. The surgery follows a challenging year for Stokes, who has struggled with hamstring issues, including a previous tear that kept him out for several matches last year.
Setback for Stokes, but Time to Recover Ahead of Busy Summer
The injury occurred after Stokes, in his role as an all-rounder, had already missed four consecutive Test matches in 2024 due to a previous hamstring tear during The Hundred in August. While playing for the Northern Superchargers in the tournament, Stokes suffered the injury, which forced him to stay sidelined for the rest of the summer season. He later returned to full fitness and resumed his role against New Zealand but struggled with the additional workload from bowling, which led to the tear in Hamilton. Stokes was forced to leave the field mid-over and played no further part in the match.
On Tuesday, Stokes took to Instagram, sharing a picture of himself in a car, supported by a leg brace. He humorously captioned the photo: “Bionic Man for a while,” a nod to his recovery. With no Test matches scheduled until May, Stokes has the opportunity to focus on regaining full fitness ahead of an intense summer schedule, which includes a highly anticipated five-match series with India. Additionally, Stokes had already been omitted from England’s squad for the upcoming one-day international Champions Trophy, giving him more time to focus on his rehabilitation.
