England's hopes in the final Ashes Test suffered a significant blow on Wednesday as captain Ben Stokes was forced to leave the field early on Day 4 due to a worrying injury. The star all-rounder experienced discomfort in his right adductor muscle, adding to England's long list of fitness woes on a challenging tour of Australia.
Stokes Succumbs to Injury Mid-Over
The incident occurred at the Sydney Cricket Ground shortly after play resumed. Ben Stokes managed to deliver only 10 balls at the start of the day's session before pulling up sharply in his follow-through. He was seen clutching his right groin area, a clear sign of distress, and had to walk off the field midway through his 28th over of Australia's innings.
England Cricket moved quickly to address concerns, issuing a statement confirming the nature of the problem. "Ben Stokes is currently being assessed for a right adductor complaint. We will provide an update when more information is available," the statement read. This development left the visiting side without their inspirational leader on the field during a crucial phase of the match.
England's Mounting Injury Crisis
Stokes' exit marked the latest chapter in a tour plagued by physical setbacks for the English fast-bowling unit. The captain joined a growing casualty list that already included Gus Atkinson (hamstring), Jofra Archer (side strain), and Mark Wood (knee). With England trailing 3-1 in the series, the loss of their skipper's bowling, even as a part-time option, was a severe setback.
In Stokes' absence, young batsman Harry Brook took over the captaincy duties on the field. The team rallied to dismiss Australia for a formidable total of 567 runs. Despite the early blow, team management later confirmed a silver lining: Stokes would bat in England's second innings, although he was expected to come in lower down the batting order to manage his discomfort.
England's Fighting Response With Bat
Facing a large deficit, England's second innings began shakily with opener Zak Crawley dismissed for just one run. However, the visitors displayed resilience. Jacob Bethell led the fightback, scoring a confident half-century. He built an 81-run partnership for the second wicket with Ben Duckett, who contributed 42 before being bowled by Michael Neser.
Veteran Joe Root joined Bethell but struggled to find his rhythm, eventually falling leg-before-wicket to Scott Boland for only six runs. The partnership that followed, however, swung momentum back towards England. Harry Brook and Bethell counter-attacked aggressively, adding 57 runs together. Their efforts slashed the deficit to just nine runs by the tea break, with England positioned promisingly at 174 for 3 and seven wickets still in hand.
As the match heads into its final stages, all eyes will be on Ben Stokes' fitness. His ability to contribute with the bat, and potentially even bowl, could be decisive in England's quest for a consolation victory. The injury scare also raises questions about workload management for the multi-format star as England looks ahead to a busy international calendar.
