Stokes leaves the field due to injury

England’s injury woes in the Ashes series continued on Thursday as captain Ben Stokes was forced to leave the field during the fourth day of the final Test in Sydney. The all-rounder experienced discomfort in a muscle in his right leg while bowling at the start of the day, prompting medical attention and an early exit from the match.

Stokes’ departure adds to England’s growing list of pace-bowling casualties this series. Prior to this match, fast bowlers Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, and Gus Atkinson had all been ruled out due to injuries, leaving the team significantly weakened in its bowling ranks. Whether Stokes will return later in the game remains uncertain.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) issued a statement confirming that Stokes’ right leg was being assessed, and that further updates on the severity of the injury would be provided in due course.

This marks the fourth major injury for Stokes in the past 18 months. He has previously struggled with hamstring, shoulder, and knee issues, which have sidelined him for significant portions of several international series, preventing him from consistently leading England on the field.

The incident occurred during the second over of the morning session. After completing the fourth ball of his 28th over, Stokes walked off towards the dressing room. At that point, Australia had reached 523 for seven. Fellow seamer Jacob Bethell completed Stokes’ over.

With Stokes off the field, Harry Brook assumed the role of stand-in captain for the first time in his international career. England managed to dismiss the final three Australian wickets for 32 runs, bowling the visitors out for 567 and leaving the hosts with a first-innings lead of 183.

Stokes has been England’s most dependable bowler throughout the Ashes series, claiming 15 wickets to date. His all-round contributions with both bat and ball have been pivotal, and his absence could significantly impact England’s prospects in the concluding stages of the match.

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England now face a critical challenge in the Ashes series as their bowling attack is further depleted, with Stokes’ fitness set to play a decisive role in the outcome of the final Test.