Ben Stokes provides injury update as England Test skipper dubs himself a ‘Bionic Man’ after undergoing latest hamstring operation

Ben Stokes dubbed himself ‘Bionic Man’ after undergoing another operation on his left hamstring.

Stokes, 33, incurred a second tear to it requiring surgery in the space of four months at the end of England’s pre-Christmas Test tour of New Zealand.

Accompanied by a photo of himself in the back of a car – sporting a leg brace, propped up with pillows – Stokes posted on Instagram: ‘Bionic Man for a while.’ He signed off with ‘in a bit…’

With England’s next Test assignment against Zimbabwe in Nottingham in late May, the captain has plenty of recovery time on his side.

Stokes learnt that an operation was necessary following scans during a late December visit to a consultant in Leeds and has been advised by medics that his rehabilitation will take three months.

‘Something else to overcome…go on then!!!!!!!! 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,’ he tweeted, following confirmation that injury would keep him out of the limited-overs tour of India starting next week and the Champions Trophy in February.

Stokes shared a photo to social media of his leg after surgery and dubbed himself ‘Bionic Man’

Stokes picked up the injury during England’s third Test defeat by New Zealand last month

He concluded the message to his 1.4million followers by saying: ‘There’s a reason I have a Phoenix permanently inked on my body. See you on the field to f*** some s*** up.’

Despite the latest setback – Stokes missed four Tests after first damaging the hamstring on Hundred duty last August – its timing means he should be fresh for the five-match home series against India this summer and an attempt to win a first away Ashes in 15 years at the end of the year.