England captain Ben Stokes suffered a left-hamstring injury while bowling on the third day of the final Test against New Zealand and left the field of play.
Stokes will now undergo “further assessment” as to whether he will return to bat in England’s second innings in Hamilton, with tourists 18-2 at stumps, needing a mammoth 640 to win
The 33-year-old was sidelined for several weeks by a badly torn left hamstring earlier this year, missing four Tests after picking up the injury in The Hundred.
“England captain Ben Stokes is currently receiving treatment for a left-hamstring issue,” said an ECB statement on Monday.
“He will not return to the field in this innings and will undergo further assessment to determine his availability to bat in England’s second innings.”
Stokes was two balls into his 13th over at the time of pulling up with the injury.
He has bowled 66.3 overs in the away series – his most in a single series as captain.
England are 2-0 up in the three-match away series, so are already assured of victory, but have been aiming for a clean sweep. But that quest was made harder on Sunday when they were dismissed for a dismal 143 on the second day of the final Test at Seddon Park and they toiled further on Monday as New Zealand racked up 453 in their second innings.
Source : Sky Sports
