Stokes injures side bowling in SCG Test

Scott Bailey | January 6, 2022

Ben Stokes’ horror Ashes tour of Australia has been further compounded by a side injury.

The England allrounder immediately clutched at his left side and winced in pain after he sent down a bouncer at Steve Smith.

He was unable to complete his over and left the field for treatment, with England officials confirming he would be further assessed during lunch on day three.

Stokes has had an incredible strain put on his body through the tour, asked to bang the ball in short during several spells.

It follows his first major return to cricket after a broken thumb last April and a subsequent break away from the game for personal reasons.

“It just highlights how difficult it is to bowl short-pitch bowling for any period of time,” former Australia Test player Simon Katich said on Seven.

“It puts a lot of strain on the body to keep running in and bowling bouncers at any pace.

“You just wonder whether England having used Ben Stokes in that role in Adelaide as well, whether it’s the right role for him because he is too crucial of a player with the balance he brings in this English line-up to not be playing for them.”

Stokes’ body has at times appeared to battle through his return, forced to manage a knee injury through the Brisbane Test.

The allrounder has also had underwhelming returns in England’s comprehensive series loss, averaging 71.50 with the ball and 16.83 with the bat.