Stokes had injured his left hamstring during the third Test of the three-match series in New Zealand, at the Seddon Park in Hamilton. He left the field during the New Zealand innings and did not bat in the fourth innings. England lost the Test but won the series 2-1, clinching their first overseas Test series triumph since Pakistan 2022-23.

An ECB statement, dated December 23, provided an update: “England Men's Test captain Ben Stokes has been ruled out of all cricket for at least three months after further assessments confirmed he has torn his left hamstring. The Durham all-rounder will undergo surgery in January. "The injury occurred during the third Test in Hamilton, during England's recent 2-1 Test series victory in New Zealand.”

England are not scheduled to play any Test cricket until May 22 against Zimbabwe – in other words, until well after Stokes’s recovery period. He was not expected to be part of the T20Is and ODIs in India or the Champions Trophy in Pakistan and the UAE (England had already named their squad without him), but he will miss his maiden SA20 stint, with the MI Cape Town.

Stokes had injured his left hamstring earlier this year. He had missed the three-Test series against Sri Lanka at home, and the first of the three Tests in Pakistan. While he did little of note in the two Tests in Pakistan, Stokes hit 80 in the first Test in New Zealand, and made 49 not out and took 4-26 in the second. England won both Tests.

Not too long after the ECB release, Stokes vowed a comeback in a post on Twitter. “Something else to overcome … go on then,” he said. “I’ve got so much more left in this tank and so much more blood sweat and tears to go through for my team and this shirt. There’s a reason I have a Phoenix permanently inked on my body. See you on the field to f*ck some sh*t up.”

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