Ben Stokes is expected to miss the remainder of the international summer after scans confirmed the all-rounder tore his calf during the second Test victory against Pakistan. The England all-rounder limped off on the final day at Old Trafford midway through his sixth over with a problem in his right calf muscle and underwent a scan on Tuesday.
The England and Wales Cricket Board has confirmed Stokes will miss the third Test against Pakistan at Edgbaston, which begins next Wednesday. The ECB declined to give a long-term prognosis and said Stokes’s injury would be reviewed next week but, with anticipated recovery times for a calf tear at around six weeks, Stokes has an extremely tight timeframe to recover for England’s final fixture of the summer, a Twenty20 against Pakistan at Old Trafford on 7 September.
The 25-year-old had only just returned to the squad for the 330-run win over Pakistan after surgery to his left knee at the end of May. Selectors declined to name a replacement in the squad for the third Test, sticking with the remaining 13 who were picked for Old Trafford. That means further chances for Alex Hales, James Vince and Gary Ballance to prove themselves in England’s batting lineup while Adil Rashid will stay with the squad as a spin option alongside Moeen Ali.
England squad for third Test against Pakistan at Edgbaston
AN Cook (captain), AD Hales, JE Root, JM Vince, GS Ballance, JM Bairstow (wkt), MM Ali, CR Woakes, SCJ Broad, JM Anderson, ST Finn, AU Rashid, JT Ball
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