England Test captain Ben Stokes has humorously dubbed himself a “Bionic Man” following successful surgery on his left hamstring. The injury occurred during the third and final Test of the New Zealand series, marking England’s last game of 2024. Stokes took to Instagram to share an update, posting a photo of his braced left leg supported by pillows, signalling his intent to return to action soon.
Stokes’ journey back to fitness has been anything but smooth. After missing England’s series against Sri Lanka at home and two Tests in Pakistan, he made a triumphant return as an all-rounder during the New Zealand series.
However, the demands of his role seemed to catch up with him during the Hamilton Test, where he pulled up sore in the 13th over of New Zealand’s second innings and could not bowl further in the match. The injury wasn’t entirely unexpected, as Stokes had already faced issues during The Hundred 2024, representing the Northern Superchargers.
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Ben Stokes had to be carried off the field after suffering discomfort mid-game. With this latest setback, Ben Stokes has been ruled out of England’s squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy, leaving fans and teammates hopeful for his full recovery.
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The absence of red-ball cricket until May offers a valuable window for the all-rounder to rehabilitate and regain form. In a conversation with BBC Sport, Stokes expressed unwavering determination to bounce back stronger.
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“It’s just one of those unfortunate things. I’m not holding back. Every time you step on the field, there’s a risk of injury, but you can’t play this game fearing that. I’m obviously disappointed, but setbacks like these fuel me to come back even stronger,” Ben Stokes shared. He added that his focus now is on putting in the necessary work to return to his peak fitness and performance.
England’s next red-ball assignment is a one-off Test against Zimbabwe in May 2025, giving Stokes ample time to recover and prepare. Fans remain optimistic that the talismanic captain will once again lead from the front, embodying resilience and determination
