London: England’s cricket team will face the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka without their regular captain, Ben Stokes, who has been sidelined due to a hamstring injury. In his absence, Ollie Pope will lead the team as the stand-in captain.

According to International Cricket Council, Stokes sustained a tear in his left hamstring during a match in The Hundred tournament, ruling him out for the rest of the English summer. The injury occurred after Stokes had recovered from a previous knee surgery in November 2023, which had restricted him to batting duties only. Since his return, Stokes had resumed bowling and participated in series against India and the West Indies, where England achieved a 3-0 series sweep.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced that Stokes is aiming for a full recovery in time for England’s tour of Pakistan in early October, where a three-match Test series is scheduled. Meanwhile, England’s squad for the Sri Lanka series will not see a direct replacement for Stokes. The team, led by Pope, includes players like Joe Root, Chris Woakes, and Mark Wood, who are expected to play crucial roles in maintaining England’s momentum in the World Test Championship standings, where they currently hold the sixth position.