Stokes Injury Scare: England Captain Suffers Groin Problem in Worrying Scenes at Lord’s
England captain Ben Stokes suffered an apparent groin injury while batting on day one of the third Test against India at Lord’s, leaving the hosts sweating over his fitness for the remainder of the match.
The 33-year-old all-rounder pulled up in visible discomfort after leaving a delivery from Nitish Kumar Reddy when on 32. Stokes immediately winced in pain, clutching at his right groin area before calling for the team physio.
Despite receiving on-field treatment, the England skipper continued to show signs of distress. He was seen hobbling between the wickets and sitting on his haunches between deliveries to try and loosen up the affected area. Stokes finished the day unbeaten on 39 from 102 balls, adding an unbroken 79-run partnership with Joe Root.
Injury Comes at Crucial Time
The timing couldn’t be worse for England, who are locked at 1-1 in the five-match series after India’s commanding 336-run victory at Edgbaston. With two Tests remaining after Lord’s, Stokes’ fitness will be crucial to England’s hopes of regaining the series lead.
Vice-captain Ollie Pope expressed cautious optimism about his skipper’s condition. “Fingers crossed he can do something magic and come back strong,” Pope said after play. “I’ve not seen him since, so fingers crossed there’s nothing too serious.”
Pope acknowledged his responsibility to ensure Stokes doesn’t push himself beyond reasonable limits. “We’ll see how he pulls up tomorrow, but for me, that is partially one of my roles, to make sure that he doesn’t push himself to a ridiculous place,” he explained.
Recent Injury History Adds to Concerns
The injury scare is particularly worrying given Stokes’ recent fitness battles. The Durham all-rounder underwent two hamstring surgeries in six months and had knee surgery in late 2023. He had only recently returned to full bowling duties after painstaking rehabilitation work.
Stokes was England’s most effective bowler in their first Test victory at Headingley, taking crucial wickets while maintaining an economy rate of 3.71 in India’s second innings at Edgbaston. His ability to contribute with both bat and ball has been vital to England’s aggressive approach under the Stokes-McCullum partnership.
England ended day one on 251 for 4, with Root unbeaten on 99. The hosts adopted an unusually cautious approach on a slow Lord’s surface, scoring at just over three runs per over – their slowest full day of batting in the Bazball era.
With India keeping England in check through disciplined bowling, Stokes’ potential absence would be a massive blow. The England medical team will anxiously assess his condition overnight, hoping their inspirational leader can continue his involvement in this pivotal Test match.
