Ben Stokes ruled out of fifth Test with India as Jofra Archer misses out too

2 months ago 30

The England captain, Ben Stokes, will miss the deciding Test against India after being ruled out with a right shoulder injury. Stokes, whose deputy Ollie Pope will lead the team in his absence, has been battling a variety of fitness issues over the course of the series and has finally been laid low with a problem that reared its head during last week’s draw at Old Trafford.

He will be replaced by Jacob Bethell, making his first Test appearance of the year in one of four changes to the England XI.

Liam Dawson has been dropped one match into his comeback, with England opting to go without a front-line spinner, while pace pair Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse are rested. Three fresh quicks come into the side, with Surrey pair Gus Atkinson and Jamie Overton returning on home soil and Josh Tongue completing the lineup.

It is understood Stokes has sustained a grade-three muscle tear, meaning a significant lay-off awaits the all-rounder. England do not play Test cricket again until the Ashes this winter, meaning the 34-year-old could face a tight recovery period to be fit for the hotly-anticipated series.

Stokes was player of the match in the drawn fourth test at Old Trafford, where the all-rounder scored 141 and took six wickets.

Addressing the media on Wednesday morning after his absence from the Test was announced, Stokes said he expected to undergo six to seven weeks of rehabilitation and was confident of being fit for the Ashes in Australia this winter.

England’s lineup: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (c), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Jamie Overton, Josh Tongue

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