England Captain Ben Stokes to Undergo Surgery for Torn Hamstring

England captain Ben Stokes has expressed his determination to overcome his latest injury, saying he has 'so much more left in the tank' and is targeting a return to cricket in May.

England Test captain Ben Stokes has vowed to make a successful return to the cricket pitch despite suffering a torn left hamstring that will keep him sidelined for at least three months. The 32-year-old all-rounder's injury was confirmed by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Monday, following further medical tests.

Stokes, who believes he has “so much more left in the tank,” is no stranger to this particular injury, having torn the same hamstring in August during The Hundred domestic competition. That setback forced him to miss four Test matches. The latest injury occurred during the third Test of England's 2-1 series victory over New Zealand last week.

England Test captain Ben Stokes has expressed his determination to overcome his latest injury setback, taking to social media to vow that he will continue to give his all for his team. “Something else to overcome…go on then!, Stokes wrote on his X account. He also emphasized his unwavering commitment, stating: “I've got so much more left in this tank and so much more blood sweat and tears to go through for my team and this shirt.”

Stokes, who has a phoenix tattoo on his body, drew inspiration from its symbolism, hinting that he will rise again from this adversity. The phoenix tattoo holds significant meaning, as Stokes noted: "There's a reason I have a Phoenix permanently inked on my body." The all-rounder's injury occurred during the third Test against New Zealand, when he was forced to stop bowling due to a torn left hamstring. Prior to the injury, Stokes had bowled 24 overs in New Zealand's first innings and was two balls into his 13th over of the second innings.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced that Stokes will undergo surgery in January to repair the torn hamstring. This setback will keep him sidelined for at least three months, but fortunately, England do not have any Test matches scheduled until May, when they will face Zimbabwe in a one-off Test. This break will give Stokes ample time to recover and rehabilitate before England's five-match home series against India in July and August.