Stokes ruled out of fifth Test

England captain Ben Stokes has been ruled out of the fifth and final Test against India due to a right shoulder injury.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed that Stokes, 34, suffered a “decent tear” in one of the muscles in his right shoulder, an injury that surfaced after his demanding all-round performance in the fourth Test at Old Trafford, which ended in a draw.

Stokes had been in superb form throughout the series, scoring 304 runs, including a commanding 141 in the fourth Test, and taking 17 wickets, making him the leading wicket-taker on either side, so far.

His bowling workload in the fourth Test was heavy, as India batted for 143 overs; he bowled 35 overs in total across both innings.

Stokes was visibly in pain during the game and experienced cramping on the third day, ultimately pushing his limits to try to influence the match for England.

Despite initial hopes that he might recover to feature in the decider, the injury’s severity meant that the risk of playing outweighed the potential reward.

Stokes himself acknowledged the disappointment but accepted the medical advice to step aside and begin rehabilitation with a view toward future fixtures, including the upcoming winter schedule and the Ashes series.

In Stokes’ absence, Ollie Pope, who normally bats at number three, has been named captain for the fifth Test. 

There are also several other changes to the England lineup: Jacob Bethell replaces Stokes at number six, Sussex pacemen Gus Atkinson and Jamie Overton return to strengthen the bowling attack, and Josh Tongue also joins, while fast bowlers Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse, and spinner Liam Dawson, have been omitted from the squad.

The stakes are high as England lead the five-match series 2-1. India needs a victory in this final Test to level the series.

The series has been physically taxing for both sides, with India also missing key players like Rishabh Pant through injury. Stokes’ absence not only affects England’s balance but also how tough a series like this could be on players.