Ben Stokes Ruled Out of Fifth Test
Injury Details and Recovery Outlook
Stokes described it as a "decent tear" in an unnamed shoulder muscle, explaining:
"We took as long as we could to make that decision… the risk was way too high for damaging it further"
He’s expected to undergo 6–7 weeks of rehabilitation, a timespan that is not expected to disrupt his availability for the upcoming Ashes tour in Australia, scheduled to begin in November 2025.
🔄 Team Changes & Captaincy
New Captain
With Stokes unavailable, Ollie Pope, batting at number three, has been appointed stand‑in captain for the Oval Test, which kicks off on July 31, 2025, at 11 am London time and runs through August 4.
Squad Overhaul
England has made four changes:
In: Jacob Bethell (batting at six and offering spin), Gus Atkinson, Jamie Overton, and Josh Tongue.
Out: Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse (rested), and spinner Liam Dawson.
Veteran all-rounder Chris Woakes is the only bowler retained from the Old Trafford Test.
England’s XI at The Oval is now expected to be
Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (c), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Jamie Overton, Josh Tongue.
🔍 Context & Series Stakes
England currently leads the series 2–1 and is seeking its first series win against India since 2018.
Stokes was in imperious form during the Old Trafford Test: he scored a brilliant 141 and claimed a five‑wicket haul, becoming only the fourth England player to score a century and take five wickets in the same Test. He also ended the series as the leading wicket‑taker so far, with 17 wickets.
Stokes on Scheduling
In the pre‑match press conference, Stokes did not shy away from criticism of the scheduling:
He highlighted the irregular gaps between tests (some as long as 8–9 days, some as short as 3–4), calling the spacing “grueling” and mentally and physically taxing for players.
He noted the alleged handshake controversy in Manchester—Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar choosing to bat to their centuries despite a draw being imminent—and commented on it briefly, saying, “We’re over it... let’s not focus too much on that 20‑minute period.” That match ended in a dramatic draw, with India’s tail-end resilience salvaging the test.
📋 Summary Table
| Topic | Summary |
|---|---|
| Reason out | Grade‑three tear in right shoulder muscle |
| Recovery | 6–7 weeks rehab; should not affect Ashes campaign |
| Series status | England leads 2–1 in the series. |
| Captain for Oval | Ollie Pope |
| Changes to XI | In: Bethell, Atkinson, Overton, Tongue; Out: Archer, Carse, Dawson |
| Stokes’ contributions | 141 runs, five wickets in 4th Test, and a series-leading 17 wickets total |
| Scheduling criticism | Cited uneven gaps and physical toll across series |
Ben Stokes’s absence is a significant blow—both in leadership and all‑round ability—but England’s depth and strong squad selection aim to ensure continuity and a shot at sealing the series on home soil at The Oval.