Ben Stokes WON’T bowl at the start of England’s Test series against Pakistan after revealing the extent of the hamstring injury that kept him out of Sri Lanka series

Ben Stokes will not bowl at the start of next month’s Test tour of Pakistan after revealing his recent hamstring injury also included damage to his tendon.

England captain Stokes is seeing a consultant on Wednesday for what is viewed as a routine check-up in his rehabilitation.

However, the 33-year-old – who missed the 2-1 win over Sri Lanka after pulling up when batting in a Hundred match on August 11 – is set to return to international action in October as a specialist batter, the role he played during the 3-0 whitewash of Pakistan two years ago.

In an interview with Sky Sports, Stokes said he was doing plenty of walking and other strengthening work to ‘make sure I don’t do any more damage to what’s there already.’

The figure of Stokes is crucial not only from a leadership point of view, but a tactical one, with his ability to perform as an all-rounder essential to the balance of England XIs.

Stokes has been recovering from a hamstring injury that he has revealed the full extent of

The England captain picked up the issue playing in The Hundred and missed the Test series win over Sri Lanka

Although he provided no prognosis on a resumption to bowling, he made clear that a cautious route would be favoured and England now appear on course to begin in Multan – the scene of the first two of three Tests – with a decision on whether to revert to a four-man attack or ask wicketkeeper Jamie Smith to continue at no 6, as he did versus the Sri Lankans.

Meanwhile, in further medical news, Mark Wood will undergo assessment for a stress fracture in his elbow later this week – after being instructed not to pick up his children with his right arm.

England fast bowler Wood, 34, was recently ruled out of the winter Test tours of Pakistan and New Zealand with a ‘bone stress’ injury detected while he was sidelined with a groin niggle.

Wood, working for Test Match Special during the third one-day international between England and Australia at his home ground of Chester-le-Street, told the programme: ‘There is nothing I can really do on my right side.

‘I have been told to stop picking my kids up with my right arm. I have to do everything with my left.’

Ollie Pope (right) deputised for Stokes – who will play as a batter – as captain against Sri Lanka

Mark Wood, meanwhile, will undergo assessment for a stress fracture in his elbow this week

Wood was acknowledged as England’s most effective bowler during the last Ashes tour down under, claiming 17 wickets in four appearances, and his breakneck pace has been identified as an essential ingredient in their attempts to win down under for the first time since 2010-11 next year.

But a recurrence of elbow trouble – he had surgery on it two years ago – has concerned surgeons enough for him to be called for further checks following initial scans.