Ben Stokes set to miss England’s Test series against New Zealand in June after being ruled out for up to three months with broken finger suffered in IPL… and faces race against time to be fit for India in August
- Stokes has fractured his left index finger and will undergo surgery next week
- England all-rounder suffered the injury taking a catch in an IPL fixture
- ECB confirmed that Stokes will be sidelined for up to three months after surgery
- It means Stokes will miss the New Zealand Test series set for June
Ben Stokes faces a battle to be fit for England’s marquee Test series against India later this summer after it was revealed on Friday that he needs surgery on his broken left index finger.
England’s talisman will definitely miss the first half of the international season, including the two-Test series against New Zealand in June and white-ball matches against Sri Lanka, with ECB expecting him to be out for three months following an operation.
And there is a doubt over his participation in the limited-overs games against Pakistan that follow in July and his inclusion in the new Hundred competition that will be launched for his Northern Chargers team on July 24.
England all-rounder Ben Stokes is set to be out injured for up to three months after breaking his finger playing in the IPL
Stokes will not feature in England’s first Test series of the summer against New Zealand
Stokes will certainly need to prove his fitness for Durham – or in the new Hundred tournament ECB will be desperate for him to play in – if he is to be sure of making the first of five Tests against India at Trent Bridge on August 4.
It is a desperate blow for Stokes and means there is an injury cloud hanging over two of England’s most important players at the start of a huge season, with Jofra Archer currently trying to prove his fitness in the nets after serious elbow problems.
And it will raise more questions about the wisdom of England allowing their best players to play a full Indian Premier League season during a packed year of international cricket that culminates with the Twenty20 World Cup and the Ashes.
Stokes hits out during England’s one day series against India last month – he stayed on to play in the IPL but will now return to England for surgery
England have taken meticulous care over their rest and rotation policy that is aimed at making sure their top players are fit and refreshed when it most matters but it has not been enough to avert a major early season selection headache.
Stokes suffered the injury taking a catch for Rajasthan Royals in their opening IPL game against Punjab Kings on Monday but it was only Friday that the severity of the break was confirmed by a second x-ray.
Specialist hand surgeon Doug Campbell, who treated Stokes when he broke his wrist punching a dressing room locker in 2014, then advised him to fly home immediately so that surgery can take place on Monday and his recovery can begin.
It is the second major finger injury suffered by Stokes who so badly broke his right index finger in 2011 there were fears it could significantly affect his career and it needed three operations to put right. Even now the finger is almost double the thickness of a normal digit and has been dubbed ‘the claw’ by England players.
Stokes will hope to play a part in England’s white ball series and the India Tests later this year
But even though the news is a huge short term blow it could yet prove a blessing in disguise if it means Stokes is fit and raring to go for the return Test series against India and then the T20 World Cup and the Ashes.
Meanwhile a decision will be made next week on whether Archer, who has been bowling in the nets at Hove, will play any part for Rajasthan in this year’s IPL or whether he is better off missing the whole tournament and getting ready for the international summer.
It has been confirmed that a third England player in Dom Sibley has a small fracture in the second finger of his left hand after dropping a catch for Warwickshire against Notts on Thursday.
But Sibley’s injury is not nearly as serious as Stokes’ and he could even bat if required in the Championship match at Trent Bridge. He then faces two to three weeks out but should be fit for the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s on June 2.