England rocked by Ben Stokes injury news after handshake furore
The England and Wales Cricket Board said vice-captain Ollie Pope would now lead the side in the match at the Oval starting Thursday, with England 2-1 up in the five-Test series.
Stokes has struggled with various fitness issues during a series in which he has sent down 140 overs – the most he has bowled in any series.
He is the leading wicket-taker on either side with 17 scalps.
'I am obviously disappointed to not be able to finish the series,' an emotional Stokes told a pre-match press conference on Wednesday.
The 34-year-old, whose career has been blighted by hamstring trouble, added: 'I have got a decent tear of one of the (shoulder) muscles I can't pronounce, I don't know how to say it, but we took as long as we could to make that decision around that.
'A bit of emotion goes into this kind of stuff when you find out what you have done — bowling was ruled out as soon as we got the scan results.
'But you need that time chatting with the medical team, Baz (England coach Brendon McCullum), then just 20 minutes to myself out there in the morning just to really be clear around the decision that we made.'
England have made four changes after a gruelling drawn fourth Test at Old Trafford, with Jacob Bethell, Josh Tongue and the Surrey pair of Gus Atkinson and Jamie Overton all coming into the side.
Fast bowlers Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse have both been rested. Spin-bowling all-rounder Bethell makes his first Test appearance of the year, effectively as a replacement for Stokes.
Liam Dawson's return to Test cricket lasted just one match, with England going into the India finale without a specialist spinner.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

News.com.au
4 hours ago
- News.com.au
National selector George Bailey on Australian A tour and Sam Konstas' Ashes chances
National selection chair George Bailey says a standout tour of India for Australia A won't be enough to guarantee Sam Konstas a maiden Ashes Test. Konstas headlines the Aus A side set for India next month alongside the likes of Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy and Lance Morris. It will be the teenager's first hit since his difficult tour of the West Indies where he averaged just eight across three Tests. Konstas' dip in form has left the door ajar for another Sheffield Shield bat-off ahead of the first Test against England in Perth. While Konstas will play before the important Shield battle, Bailey suspects 'there's some separation' between scores in India and what selectors may feel will succeed back home. 'I think there's some separation there, I don't think the surface of Lucknow is going to be a great read through to what we're going to get across the summer,' he said. 'Whilst we'd be thrilled to see that (Konstas make three tons) — and it's a really important tour for us and we're really interested in the performances of players there — there will be some separation and I do think performing across the start of the summer is going to be important.' Kurtis Patterson and Jake Weatherald featured in the A series against Sri Lanka A in Darwin last month but were left out of the Indian tour. Patterson and Weatherald were two of the form batters across the last Shield season and will be looking to pile on further runs early this summer. Bailey says the start of every Australian domestic season is crucial for Test selection but admits there will be a few he will be watching closely. 'The start of a domestic summer is always critical, given where the Test series always starts there always tends to be three, four, five rounds of Shield cricket,' he said. 'Performances in the early rounds of Shield cricket always puts your name up in lights and always helps your team off to a good start. 'That's critically important and I don't think that will be anything different this year, (but) clearly there will be some players where it's about purely performing and putting as many runs and taking as many wickets as they can.


The Advertiser
5 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Incumbent Test player picked for Australia A tour
Incumbent Test opener Sam Konstas has been picked to travel with Australia A to India as he fights to retain his spot for the Ashes. Coming off a horror tour of the West Indies where he averaged just 8.33, the 19-year-old's place will come under pressure ahead of the summer. But two four-day games in Lucknow could give Konstas the opportunity to find form after his confidence took a battering in the Caribbean. The matches will give the New South Welshman extra time to impress selectors, adding to the Sheffield Shield games he will get in before November's first Test against England in Perth. Konstas will also get a chance to show selectors he can play in Asia, with Australia's defence of the Border-Gavaskar trophy due to take place in India in early 2027. "The subcontinent provides many unique challenges and the opportunity to utilise different skills with bat and ball," chairman of selectors George Bailey said."We hope repeated experiences in these conditions will assist players in developing an effective method and understanding of their game for future subcontinent tours." The squad is, naturally, full of spin-bowling depth, but also of batting potential for the future. Victorian teenager Oliver Peake will get another chance to impress, two weeks after the 18-year-old batter made 92 for Australia A against Sri Lanka A in Darwin. Konstas, Xavier Bartlett, Campbell Kellaway, Nathan McSweeney, Lance Morris, Fergus O'Neill, Ollie Peake, Josh Philippe and Corey Rocchiccioli won't play in the 50-over games that follow, returning to Australia for the first Sheffield Shield round. "For many of these players we remain interested in the development of their short form cricket as well, but balancing out priorities meant we wanted them back and available for the start of the Sheffield Shield season," Bailey said. Other Test players outside the current best XI, like Scott Boland, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Matthew Kuhnemann and Sean Abbott have not been picked for the tour. Incumbent Test opener Sam Konstas has been picked to travel with Australia A to India as he fights to retain his spot for the Ashes. Coming off a horror tour of the West Indies where he averaged just 8.33, the 19-year-old's place will come under pressure ahead of the summer. But two four-day games in Lucknow could give Konstas the opportunity to find form after his confidence took a battering in the Caribbean. The matches will give the New South Welshman extra time to impress selectors, adding to the Sheffield Shield games he will get in before November's first Test against England in Perth. Konstas will also get a chance to show selectors he can play in Asia, with Australia's defence of the Border-Gavaskar trophy due to take place in India in early 2027. "The subcontinent provides many unique challenges and the opportunity to utilise different skills with bat and ball," chairman of selectors George Bailey said."We hope repeated experiences in these conditions will assist players in developing an effective method and understanding of their game for future subcontinent tours." The squad is, naturally, full of spin-bowling depth, but also of batting potential for the future. Victorian teenager Oliver Peake will get another chance to impress, two weeks after the 18-year-old batter made 92 for Australia A against Sri Lanka A in Darwin. Konstas, Xavier Bartlett, Campbell Kellaway, Nathan McSweeney, Lance Morris, Fergus O'Neill, Ollie Peake, Josh Philippe and Corey Rocchiccioli won't play in the 50-over games that follow, returning to Australia for the first Sheffield Shield round. "For many of these players we remain interested in the development of their short form cricket as well, but balancing out priorities meant we wanted them back and available for the start of the Sheffield Shield season," Bailey said. Other Test players outside the current best XI, like Scott Boland, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Matthew Kuhnemann and Sean Abbott have not been picked for the tour. Incumbent Test opener Sam Konstas has been picked to travel with Australia A to India as he fights to retain his spot for the Ashes. Coming off a horror tour of the West Indies where he averaged just 8.33, the 19-year-old's place will come under pressure ahead of the summer. But two four-day games in Lucknow could give Konstas the opportunity to find form after his confidence took a battering in the Caribbean. The matches will give the New South Welshman extra time to impress selectors, adding to the Sheffield Shield games he will get in before November's first Test against England in Perth. Konstas will also get a chance to show selectors he can play in Asia, with Australia's defence of the Border-Gavaskar trophy due to take place in India in early 2027. "The subcontinent provides many unique challenges and the opportunity to utilise different skills with bat and ball," chairman of selectors George Bailey said."We hope repeated experiences in these conditions will assist players in developing an effective method and understanding of their game for future subcontinent tours." The squad is, naturally, full of spin-bowling depth, but also of batting potential for the future. Victorian teenager Oliver Peake will get another chance to impress, two weeks after the 18-year-old batter made 92 for Australia A against Sri Lanka A in Darwin. Konstas, Xavier Bartlett, Campbell Kellaway, Nathan McSweeney, Lance Morris, Fergus O'Neill, Ollie Peake, Josh Philippe and Corey Rocchiccioli won't play in the 50-over games that follow, returning to Australia for the first Sheffield Shield round. "For many of these players we remain interested in the development of their short form cricket as well, but balancing out priorities meant we wanted them back and available for the start of the Sheffield Shield season," Bailey said. Other Test players outside the current best XI, like Scott Boland, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Matthew Kuhnemann and Sean Abbott have not been picked for the tour.

ABC News
7 hours ago
- ABC News
Wallabies veteran Nic White backtracks on retirement to face Springboks
Wallabies scrum-half Nic White has been included in the Wallabies' initial Rugby Championship squad, less than a week after playing what appeared to be his farewell Test. White announced his international retirement prior to the Wallabies' 22-12 victory over the British and Irish Lions in Sydney last Saturday night. But a hamstring injury to Jake Gordon has seen White reverse his retirement plans for the time being. He was included as one of three scrum-halves in the Wallabies' 35-player squad to face the Springboks in back-to-back Tests in South Africa. Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has opted to promote the uncapped Ryan Lonergan, who joins Tate McDermott and White in the wider squad for the opening two Rugby Championship rounds. Lonergan is one of three uncapped players selected, alongside winger Corey Toole and ex-All Blacks prop Aidan Ross. Playmakers Tane Edmed and James O'Connor have also been included. Edmed has been called up to replace first-choice fly-half Tom Lynagh, who was ruled out with concussion after falling victim to an illegal clean-out in the third and final Lions Test. Western Force hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa has been officially added to the group, having answered a late call ahead of the final Lions Test after injuries to David Porecki and Matt Faessler last Thursday. Porecki subsequently announced his retirement this week. Queensland trio Josh Flook, Josh Nasser and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto are the other three new faces in the squad. The Wallabies face the Springboks in Johannesburg on August 17 AEST, before travelling to Cape Town for a return bout with the world champions the following week. "It's pleasing to be able to keep the core of the group together, while also leaning on some depth and fresh bodies," Schmidt said. "We're very conscious of how difficult it is going to be, playing South Africa on their home turf over two consecutive weekends. "The group has made some positive steps throughout the start of the Test season but we all know there is a lot of hard work ahead of us." Forwards — Angus Bell, Nick Champion De Crespigny, Nick Frost, Langi Gleeson, Tom Hooper, Fraser McReight, Josh Nasser, Zane Nonggorr, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Billy Pollard, Tom Robertson, Aidan Ross, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Will Skelton, James Slipper, Carlo Tizzano, Taniela Tupou, Rob Valetini, Jeremy Williams, Harry Wilson Backs — Ben Donaldson, Tane Edmed, Josh Flook, Len Ikitau, Max Jorgensen, Andrew Kellaway, Ryan Lonergan, Tate McDermott, James O'Connor, Hunter Paisami, Dylan Pietsch, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Corey Toole, Nic White, Tom Wright AAP/ABC