Ben Stokes is ruled OUT of England’s Test series against Sri Lanka as scans reveal hamstring tear – with captain now targeting October return for Pakistan tour

Ben Stokes has been ruled out of the remainder of England’s international summer after scans confirmed a tear in his left hamstring.

Stokes, 33, is now targeting a return to fitness for October’s tour of Pakistan, having been denied the chance to push for a first clean sweep in home Tests since 2004 by the injury sustained batting in the Hundred on Sunday evening.

‘As a result of the scans conducted in Leeds on Tuesday, Stokes will miss England’s three-match Rothesay Test series against Sri Lanka, which begins at Emirates Old Trafford on Wednesday, 21 August,’ said the ECB in a statement.

‘The all-rounder is aiming to return for England’s winter Test tour of Pakistan, scheduled to start in early October. The tour includes three Test matches in Multan, Karachi, and Rawalpindi.’

The news, expected after Stokes was in clear anguish leaving the field supported by Northern Superchargers medical staff, ends his sequence of 26 straight appearances since taking over the England captaincy permanently. 

Scans have confirmed Stokes has suffered a severe hamstring tear in his left leg

Stokes, 33, is now targeting a return to fitness for October’s tour of Pakistan

Ollie Pope, vice-captain to Stokes, will deputise against the Sri Lankans.

England beat West Indies 3-0 in the first stanza of the Test summer, but will now try to replicate that whitewash without both their inspirational leader and opening batsman Zak Crawley, who is sidelined by a fractured finger.

Not since Michael Vaughan’s team 20 years ago have England been victorious in all of their home Test matches.