England captain Ben Stokes suffered a right adductor injury on Day 4 of the fifth Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground. This marks another significant blow for the touring side. It’s been a tough series already for England, trailing Australia 3-1. And Stokes’ injury just piles on the pressure.
Skipper’s Limp Exit at SCG
Stokes felt the injury early on Day 4. He was bowling his 28th over when he pulled up, clutching his right groin. He’d delivered just 10 balls for the day. He then walked off the field, midway through the over. The England camp quickly confirmed an adductor issue.
England Cricket put out a statement: “Ben Stokes is currently being assessed for a right adductor complaint. We will provide an update when more information is available.” This came from NDTV Sports, among others.
Harry Brook stepped in as captain in Stokes’ absence. Play continued without interruption. But losing their captain and most reliable bowler mid-match, that’s never good.
An Injury Epidemic for England
This injury hits England at a difficult time. The series is lost. And Stokes joins a growing list of fast bowlers sidelined. Gus Atkinson is out with a hamstring. Jofra Archer has a side strain. And Mark Wood went home with a knee issue. The bowling attack has taken a beating. They’ve relied heavily on Stokes throughout the series, especially with others out. He’s bowled 101.1 overs this Ashes, his second-highest series workload since 2018. It’s a lot for a player with his injury history.
Nasser Hussain from Sky Sports didn’t hold back. He said,
“He’s got a history of injuries, but that’s the way Stokes plays his cricket. He does everything 100 per cent, never eases into anything. He is a victim of probably his own, and his management team’s selections in this series. He’s bowled over 100 overs with a history of injuries, and it’s 35 degrees, 40 degrees on some pitches.”
Hussain suggests Stokes has been overused. He’s had to compensate for other bowlers’ shortcomings, and the lack of a specialist spinner in some Tests. His body simply couldn’t take it anymore. And that makes sense. It’s a brutal game.
Match Impact and What’s Next
England did manage to dismiss Australia for 567 in their first innings. That happened despite Stokes being off the field. But England’s second innings batting started badly. Zak Crawley got out for just one run. Though Jacob Bethell played well, scoring a half-century. He put on an 81-run partnership with Ben Duckett, who made 42 before Michael Neser bowled him. The visitors closed Day 4 on 302-8, leading by 119 runs.
Stokes still came out to bat, but lower down the order at number eight. He was visibly hobbled. He managed only one run before edging his fifth ball to slip. He won’t bowl on the final day, that’s pretty clear. Jacob Bethell confirmed it to Sky Sports.
“I don’t know the exact injury, but he’s moving pretty gingerly. I don’t think that bodes too well for him bowling tomorrow.”
So, no bowling for the captain. That makes England’s task even harder, chasing a consolation win.
The Captain’s Ongoing Battle
This injury underscores the toll Test cricket takes. Stokes, as captain and all-rounder, carries huge responsibility. This isn’t his first injury. He’s battled knee, hamstring, and shoulder problems over the past few years. He hadn’t played a full part in England’s previous four Test series before this Ashes. He even signed a new England central contract, committing until the 2027 Ashes. He wants to keep leading. And he’s been working hard on his fitness. But the body has limits.
Sources like Times of India highlighted his pre-series comments. He’d spoken about the need to work harder as he got older. And about wanting to win the Ashes down under. That dream is gone this time. He admitted it’s been a “tough one.” His next cricket is likely in June for the New Zealand Test series. He might play County Championship for Durham before then. But for now, it’s about recovery. And reflecting on a series that truly tested England’s depth, and its captain.
Soureesh Datta 
Sagnik Banerjee 
Ishaan Singh