Home

Ben Stokes sidelined with finger fracture

AAPAAP
England allrounder Ben Stokes will miss up to three months of cricket because of a broken finger.
Camera IconEngland allrounder Ben Stokes will miss up to three months of cricket because of a broken finger. Credit: AP

England allrounder Ben Stokes will be sidelined for up to 12 weeks as he requires surgery on the left index finger he fractured while on Indian Premier League duty.

Stokes, who suffered the injury while fielding in Rajasthan Royals' season-opener against Punjab Kings earlier this week, will head back to the UK from India on Saturday and have surgery in Leeds on Monday.

The injury looks set to rule Stokes out of England's two Tests against New Zealand in June as well as a limited-overs series - comprising of three Twenty20s and three one-day internationals - against Sri Lanka.

He could be back for the white-ball assignments against Pakistan in July, with a view to being fully fit for the five Tests against India which get under way the following month.

The injury happened when Stokes completed a catch in the deep to see off veteran opener Chris Gayle, diving forwards to cling on in the 10th over as he made amends for his earlier drop of the powerhouse West Indies batsman.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

But Stokes shook his left hand in distress after climbing back to his feet before briefly leaving the field for treatment and, having already sent down one over, he did not bowl for the remainder of the innings in Mumbai.

He then registered a three-ball duck as the Royals crashed to a narrow four-run defeat, which was compounded by the news Stokes will now be sidelined for the rest of this year's tournament.

The Game AFL 2024

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails