On Sunday the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced that the flamboyant English all-rounder Ben Stokes will be missing from the upcoming One-Day International (ODI) against Scotland next weekend and the initial games of the five-match home series against Australia due to a torn hamstring.

Stokes sustained an injury in his left hamstring tear in the build-up during the recently concluded second Test against Pakistan at Headingley and was replaced in England’s squad for that match by debutant paceman Sam Curran.

ECB’s statement regarding stokes read: “England all-rounder Ben Stokes will miss the ODI against Scotland in Edinburgh and will be unavailable for the first part of the five-match Royal London ODI series against Australia as he recovers from a left hamstring tear.”

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It further added, “Stokes will be assessed later this week. He will continue his rehabilitation programme and will return to his county side Durham on Monday.”

Middlesex batsman Dawid Malan has been drafted into the squad for the ODI match against Scotland in Edinburgh on June 10. Meanwhile, Kent batsman Sam Billings, who last summer played with the Sydney Sixers in the KFC BBL, has also been recalled into the team for the series against Australia, which sees England, top of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) ODI rankings, taking on the reigning 50-over world champions.

Stokes has not faced Australia since last year’s Champions Trophy tournament, as he missed the Ashes Test series, five-match ODI series and T20 tri-series also involving New Zealand after he was sidelined by the ECB following his alleged involvement in a street brawl in Bristol last September. 

Australian tour to England

June 7: Warm-up v Sussex, Hove (D/N)

June 9: Warm-up v Middlesex, Lord’s

June 13: First ODI, The Oval (D/N)

June 16: Second ODI, Cardiff

June 19: Third ODI, Trent Bridge (D/N)

June 21: Fourth ODI, Durham (D/N)

June 24: Fifth ODI, Old Trafford

June 27: Only T20, Edgbaston (D/N)