Introduction
Ben Stokes, the England Test captain, suffered a major injury on Sunday while playing for the Northern Superchargers in The Hundred. This incident raises concerns as England prepares for the Test series against Sri Lanka ODI.
Incident Details
Stokes, 33, injured his hamstring after hitting a quick single. He grabbed the back of his left leg in pain and had to be carried off the field by two Superchargers staff members. The injury occurred just weeks before England’s first Test against Sri Lanka ODI on August 21 at Old Trafford.
Impact on England Squad
Meanwhile, Zak Crawley, England’s opener, will miss the Test series against Sri Lanka ODI due to a broken finger. Crawley fractured his little finger while attempting a catch during the third Test victory over the West Indies. With Crawley out, Dan Lawrence will open alongside Ben Duckett.
Changes in the Squad
Dan Lawrence, who has not played a Test since 2022, will now have his chance. The 27-year-old moved from Essex to Surrey over the winter and has started the County Championship season strongly, averaging 53.09 with two centuries and three fifties.
New Call-Ups
England has also made several changes to their squad. They handed Test debuts to Gus Atkinson and Jamie Smith ahead of the West Indies series. Now, Essex batsman Jordan Cox has received his first call-up. Cox, 23, joined the England set-up during the white-ball tour of Pakistan in 2022 and will aim to make his international debut against Sri Lanka.
Injuries Continue
Uncapped seamer Dillon Pennington, who was part of the squad for the series against the West Indies, also sustained a hamstring injury while playing for Northern Superchargers in The Hundred. Pennington will likely miss the rest of the English summer.
Returning Players
Nottinghamshire seam bowler Olly Stone returns to the Test squad for the first time since 2021. Stone hopes to add to his three Test caps and provides much-needed depth to England’s bowling attack.
Upcoming Test Series
The first Test against Sri Lanka begins at Old Trafford on August 21, followed by matches at Lord’s and The Oval. England needs to quickly adapt to these changes and injuries to maintain their competitive edge.
England Squad for the Test Series
England’s squad for the Test series against Sri Lanka includes:
- Ben Stokes (capt)
- Gus Atkinson
- Shoaib Bashir
- Harry Brook
- Jordan Cox
- Ben Duckett
- Dan Lawrence
- Ollie Pope
- Matthew Potts
- Joe Root
- Jamie Smith
- Olly Stone
- Chris Woakes
- Mark Wood
