England Check captain Ben Stokes has been dominated out of subsequent 12 months’s Champions Trophy and the previous white-ball tour of India, following a hamstring harm sustained through the third Check in opposition to New Zealand in Hamilton earlier this month.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed on Sunday that the 33-year-old all-rounder wouldn’t be thought-about for choice.
“Durham all-rounder Ben Stokes was not thought-about for choice as he continues to be assessed following a left hamstring harm sustained,” the ECB acknowledged.
Stokes was unable to bat within the second innings of England’s 423-run defeat to New Zealand, a loss that also noticed the staff win the three-match collection 2-1.
The harm marks the newest in a collection of hamstring issues for the England star, who had beforehand missed the house collection in opposition to Sri Lanka and the primary Check in Pakistan this 12 months.
With England dealing with a busy 2024, together with a five-match Check collection at house in opposition to India in June and a vital Ashes tour of Australia in 2025/26, the staff administration has opted to prioritise Stokes’ restoration and keep away from additional harm danger.
In the meantime, key batsman Joe Root, who beforehand stepped down as Check captain in favour of Stokes, makes his return to the ODI aspect for the primary time since England’s 2023 World Cup marketing campaign in India.
Quick bowler Mark Wooden, who missed England’s current Check excursions to Pakistan and New Zealand as a result of a proper elbow harm, has been included in each the India tour and Champions Trophy squads.
The tour to India, beginning with 5 T20s in January and adopted by a three-match ODI collection, shall be England’s first limited-overs task beneath coach Brendon McCullum, who had beforehand solely managed the Check staff.
Jos Buttler stays as captain of each the ODI and T20 sides regardless of England’s current World Cup setbacks. Nonetheless, it’s doable that Buttler might not maintain wicket through the collection, as each Jamie Smith and Phil Salt have been included as extra wicketkeeping choices.
21-year-old Jacob Bethell, who impressed throughout his debut Check collection in New Zealand with three fifties, has been named in each squads.
Leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed joins the T20 squad, whereas Root is chosen solely for the ODIs.
The England squad will depart for India on January 17, with the primary T20 scheduled for January 22 in Kolkata with the ODI collection in opposition to India starting in Nagpur on February 6.
The Champions Trophy, which may also function the host Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh, will happen from February 19 to March 9 2025, though match dates are but to be confirmed.