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"A Decent Tear": Ben Stokes Sheds Light On Injury Ruling Him Out Of 5th Test vs India

Abhinav Tyagi

Ben Stokes Injury - (Source : @Johns/X.com)Ben Stokes Injury - (Source : @Johns/X.com)

England will be without their regular skipper Ben Stokes on Thursday, July 31, when they face India for the fifth and final Test of the series. On Wednesday, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) released the playing XI for the fifth Test, and the hosts have made four changes. 

Stokes was left out of the starting XI because of a shoulder injury, which he sustained during the fourth Test at Old Trafford. The England captain bowled several overs despite the pain and discomfort. 

Stokes Provides Update On His Injury

On the eve of the fifth Test, the southpaw addressed the press, where he shed more light on his injury. Stokes revealed that he has done decent damage to his muscle and sustained a tear. The England skipper didn't comment on the timeline of his injury or when he would return to the playing XI. 

“Disappointed to not finish the series. I have a decent tear in the muscle I can’t pronounce. Will start rehabbing now for the winter," Stokes remarked during the presser as quoted by Sahil Malhotra of TOI.

In Stokes' absence, local boy Ollie Pope will be leading the side on his home ground. 

Stokes Blames Scheduling For Injuries And Niggles

In the same presser, Stokes blamed the scheduling and questioned the logic behind allotting a week's game between two Tests and just three days' break between the fourth and fifth match. 

"Gaps between matches could have been, say, 4-5 days. Two matches had an 8-9 day break, then less for two matches, and it’s been hard for both teams," Stokes added in the presser.

While England will miss Stokes, India will also be without Jasprit Bumrah, who is reported to sit out because of workload management.