England’s Ashes from Hell has hit a new low after inspirational skipper Ben Stokes limped off the SCG early on day four with a right adductor injury.
The tourists have already lost fast bowlers Mark Wood, Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson to injury this series, with Stokes the latest to join their heaving casualty ward.
Stokes was four balls into his 28th over on another hot day in Sydney when he realised something was horribly wrong.
“That’s been worrying him all tour, that groin,” Mark Waugh said in commentary.
Stokes has led valiantly when everything has gone wrong this series, with the all-rounder taking 15 wickets and scoring two half-centuries for a team that is on track to lose 4-1.
“It’s been a big effort for this man to get through all five Test matches,” Adam Gilchrist said in commentary.
“There was that point in Adelaide where he didn’t bowl and we wondered whether there was a niggle, but it was just because it was extreme heat the day before when he batted most of the day.”
Stokes left the field immediately with Jacob Bethell completing the over, with all eyes now on whether he bats in England’s second innings as Australia’s lead approaches 200 following centuries to Travis Head and Steve Smith.
“He’s a warrior cricketer,” Isa Guha said on Fox Cricket.
“He worked so hard to get himself fit for this series, but it hasn’t gone his way. He’s had to really put in with bat and ball and as captain, and it’s finally told in the end.”
Originally published as ‘Finally told in the end’: Ben Stokes leaves the SCG with injury in latest blow to England
