Ben Stokes has been ruled out of the second Test against Sri Lanka at Chester-le-Street because of his knee injury and will be replaced in England’s squad by Chris Woakes.
Stokes, who jarred his left knee on the second day of England’s innings victory at Leeds, had scans on Sunday and is to see a consultant to “decide on a management plan”.
That meeting will take place on Tuesday, when Stokes’ fellow all-rounder Woakes and Jake Ball – the seamer who was picked in a Test squad for the first time at Headingley – will join England, after leaving their ongoing matches in the County Championship.
An England and Wales Cricket Boad statement on Monday morning read: “England all-rounder Ben Stokes will miss the second Test at Emirates Riverside after sustaining a left-knee injury during England’s first Test victory at Headingley.
“Following a scan yesterday and review by the medical team, it was advised that Stokes would be unavailable for the match in Durham. The 24-year-old will be reviewed by a consultant tomorrow, to decide on a management plan.”
Durham’s Stokes will therefore not feature in his home Test, while Woakes is back in the reckoning for his seventh cap – his last came at Centurion in January, when England lost the match but won the series against South Africa.
The Warwickshire all-rounder will vie with the Nottinghamshire seamer Ball for the final place to face Sri Lanka, depending on the balance of the team England decide is needed.
England squad – Alastair Cook (capt), Alex Hales, Nick Compton, Joe Root, James Vince, Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Stuart Broad, Steven Finn, James Anderson, Jake Ball, Chris Woakes.
