England captain Ben Stokes suffered a left hamstring while bowling on the third day of the final test against New Zealand and left the field.
Stokes will now undergo “further assessment” as to whether he will return to bat in England's second innings in Hamilton, with the tourists 18-2 at stumps, needing a mammoth 640 to win.
The 33-year-old was sidelined for several weeks with a badly torn left hamstring earlier this year, missing four Tests after picking up the injury in The Hundred.
“England captain Ben Stokes is currently undergoing treatment for a left side problem,” said an ECB statement released shortly after the 33-year-old was dropped.
“He will not return to the field in this innings and will undergo further assessment to determine his availability to bat in the second innings in England.”
'Maybe you manage his bowling loads' – what next for Stokes amid latest injury concern?
Stokes was two balls into his 13th over when he went up with the injury.
He has scored 66.3 goals in the away series – his most in a single series as captain.
“We didn't see it coming,” assistant coach Marcus Trescothick said.
“You don't have any symptoms for things like this, generally they just happen. But obviously it's the same handicap he's done before and it's always difficult when you realize you've hurt you again.
Stokes left the field in the second session on Monday
“It may be a matter of you managing his bowling responsibilities (from now on) and he may not bowl as much as he has bowled in this game.
“He's working really well with fitness to try and get into the best shape he can be. He's been going so well, he's been bowling and playing his role as captain and skipper. look at how we manage him.”
England are 2-0 up in the three-game away series, so they are already confident of victory, but they have been aiming for a clean sweep. However, that quest was made more difficult on Sunday when they were dismissed for a dismal 143 on the second day at Seddon Park and were later worked on on Monday when New Zealand piled up 453 in the second innings. they have
