Ben Stokes will undergo surgery on a torn hamstring and be out of action for at least three months.
The England captain was injured during the recent third Test against New Zealand in Hamilton, a series which England won 2-1.
“Ben Stokes has been ruled out of all cricket for at least three months after further assessments confirmed he has torn his left hamstring,” said an England and Wales Cricket Board spokesperson.
“The Durham all-rounder will undergo surgery in January.”
Stokes had been left out of England’s squad for the Champions Trophy in February and March when the 15-man party was announced on Sunday.
Despite his presence against New Zealand, the 33-year-old had previously missed the summer series against Sri Lanka and the first Test against Pakistan in the autumn due to hamstring issues.
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Stokes pulled up with hamstring trouble while bowling his 37th over of the third Test against New Zealand, handing the captaincy reins to Ollie Pope in the field.
He insisted later there will be no “holding back” when he recovers from his latest injury problems, insisting he is ready to keep digging deep for England.
Stokes said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter: “Something else to overcome…go on then!”
England captain Ben Stokes. (Photo by Gareth Copley – ECB/ECB via Getty Images)
“I’ve got so much more left in this tank and so much more blood sweat and tears to go through for my team and this shirt.
“There’s a reason I have a Phoenix permanently inked on my body.
“See you on the field to f–k some s–t up.”
He had been set to play for MI Cape Town in the SA20, South Africa’s franchise T20 league, in January but will now miss the tournament.
England’s next Test is not until they face Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge in May.
– with AAP