Cricket Sport

Ben Stokes injury clouds final Ashes Test as England captain limps off in Sydney

Editor

January 7, 2026
6 min read

Ben Stokes injury clouds final Ashes Test as England captain limps off in Sydney

England were left anxiously watching from the sidelines on day four of the final Ashes Test after Ben Stokes’s injury forced the captain off the field midway through the morning session at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Stokes pulled up during his second over of the day, clutching his right adductor after delivering his 10th ball on Wednesday morning. He turned immediately towards the pavilion and left the field without hesitation, a rare early exit for a player who has shouldered England’s heaviest bowling workload throughout the series.

A brief absence, but deeper uncertainty

At the point of his departure, Stokes had bowled 101 overs across the series, second only to Brydon Carse, and was four balls into what would have been his 28th over in Australia’s first innings. With the hosts already 523 for 7, vice-captain Harry Brook stepped in to complete the over and assumed the captaincy for the first time in a Test match.

Australia were eventually dismissed for 567, securing a first-innings lead of 183, but the focus remained firmly on Stokes. Although he returned to the field less than 40 minutes later, avoiding complications under ICC playing conditions, doubts linger over whether he will be able to bat in his usual No.6 position as England attempt to salvage pride in a series already lost.

A series shaped by physical strain

That Ben Stokes’s injury arrived so late in the match offered limited consolation. England entered the Test trailing 3–1, with the Ashes already surrendered, and hopes of a final-day turnaround were slim even before their captain left the field.

More concerning is the wider context. This is the fourth injury to disrupt Stokes’ cricket in the past 18 months, each one cutting into a major series. He missed England’s home Tests against Sri Lanka last summer with a hamstring tear sustained during The Hundred, then suffered a recurrence during the winter tour of New Zealand. A shoulder problem ruled him out of the decisive fifth Test against India, after bowling through visible discomfort in Manchester in pursuit of a series-clinching win.

Last year’s knee surgery had appeared to restore him to full fitness, and he arrived in Australia widely regarded as the squad’s strongest physical presence. His performances backed that up. Stokes opened the series with figures of 5 for 23 in Perth and went on to claim 15 wickets at an average just over 25, frequently returning for long spells when England’s attack faltered.

Questions over workload and leadership

Yet his use of his own bowling has drawn scrutiny. With England deprived of specialist opening bowlers Gus Atkinson and Jofra Archer, Stokes often delayed taking the new ball, compensating later with extended spells designed to steady an attack struggling for consistency.

The strain was visible. On Tuesday alone, he delivered a seven-over burst to usher in the second new ball, the fourth such spell of similar length in the series. It was leadership by example, but one that came at a cost.

Such decisions have fuelled debate about how England manage their captain’s body, particularly given his decision to step away from franchise cricket, including The Hundred, to preserve his fitness for Test duty. Stokes has also spoken openly about changes to his lifestyle, increasing gym work and cutting back on alcohol as he attempts to extend his career.

Concerns about player workload and injury management have grown in modern Test cricket, with international guidance on recovery and physical strain now shaping selection and workload decisions, as set out by the ICC.

Looking ahead to a fragile calendar

With England’s next Test assignment not scheduled until June, when New Zealand visit Lord’s, the immediate concern is recovery rather than availability. Stokes may yet turn out for Durham in the County Championship as preparation, but only if the injury proves minor.

Speaking before the Sydney Test, Stokes reflected candidly on the demands of the role. “When you get older you do have to work harder away from the sport,” he said. “I’ve had some decent injuries over the last couple of years, and you have to keep doing the tiny things you probably don’t want to do.”

The ECB recently extended his central contract through to the end of the 2027 Ashes summer, a vote of confidence that underscores his value, but also the importance of protecting a player England can ill afford to lose.

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[Image Credit | Getty Images]