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Stokes Undergoes Surgery, Out for Three Months

England Test captain Ben Stokes has undergone surgery for a hamstring injury sustained during the tour of New Zealand in December. This injury occurred while bowling in the third and final Test in Hamilton and marks the second serious hamstring issue Stokes has faced in the past six months. Previously, he aggravated the same problem while playing for the Northern Superchargers in The Hundred last August, which sidelined him during England's 2-1 series victory over Sri Lanka.

Despite making a return for the second and third matches against Pakistan, Stokes faced another setback in New Zealand, tearing his left hamstring again. This injury contributed to a significant 423-run defeat for England, although they managed to win the series 2-1. Following the surgery, Stokes is expected to be out for approximately three months, which means he will miss the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy and England's white-ball tour of India starting on January 22.

However, there is optimism regarding his return for the four-day Test against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge in May, as well as the subsequent five-match series against India. Under Stokes' leadership, England has played the most matches in the current World Test Championship cycle, achieving 10 wins and 9 losses, but they are no longer in contention for the WTC final. Additionally, the England and Wales Cricket Board (EC has confirmed that England will not boycott their fixture against Afghanistan in the 2025 Champions Trophy, despite calls from British politicians, as the tournament is an ICC event.

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