England all-rounder Ben Stokes is about to scan his calf muscle. Stokes was out of the England attack with a calf injury during the afternoon session at Old Trafford.
He has back in competitive cricket after playing for county match for Durham against Lancashire where he proved his fitness so he was recalled for the second Test against Pakistan at Old Trafford. With England were trailing the series 1-0 selectors wanted England to come hard on Pakistan so Stokes and James Anderson were recalled in the team. Now it seems his calf muscle may end his summer session.
Stokes was delivering his sixth over when he pulled up sharply having delivered the ball and was unable to stop a gentle push back past him from Younis Khan.
An ECB spokesman confirmed the injury was to Stokes’ right calf and said he would not bowl again on the fourth day. That means the England attack has been reduced to four men as they attempted to bowl Pakistan out and level the series. Pakistan were 66 for 2 when Stokes left the field before the man who finished his over, Moeen Ali, struck twice.
ECB has sent Stokes for an MRI scan on today (Tuesday). It was learnt that if Stokes has sustained a torn calf muscle, rather than a strain, he could well be out of action for six weeks. The third Test of the series will start on August 3 at Edgbaston, Birmingham, the fourth and final Test will be played at The Oval on August 11.
Ben Stokes earlier generated impressive pace and had Younis dropped at slip by Alastair Cook. He returns to the Test team having sustained a knee injury earlier in the summer. He was forced off the pitch at Headingley and subsequently underwent surgery.