Star English all-rounder has suffered a minor knee injury during the third Test against India, played at Trent Bridge Nottingham. Confirming the development, the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) described the injury as a 'niggle at the back of his left knee'. However, he is expected to recover full fitness before the crucial clash at the Rose Bowl in Southampton, scheduled to begin on August 30.
Due to the injury, the 27-year-old all-rounder had to miss the crucial T20 Blast quarter-final at home to Sussex on Friday.
His team, Durham Jets, tweeted out the news on Wednesday and stated, “Ben Stokes has not been made available for Friday's @VitalityBlast quarter-final. He has a left knee niggle but should be fit enough for the fourth Test. #ForTheNorth”
Towards the end of India’s second innings of the Nottingham test, Stokes was seen holding the back of his left knee which forced him to deliver a spell of short-pitched bowling on a sluggish surface.
Despite the injury, he came out to bat in the fourth innings and played a crucial innings alongside Jos Buttler, the English vice-captain.
The duo stitched a massive partnership of 169 runs for the fifth wicket before Buttler was dismissed by Jasprit Bumrah on 106. On the other hand, Stokes scored 62 runs before being dismissed off Hardik Pandya’s bowling.
Later, India went on to win the match by 203 runs and made a stunning coming back in the series.