Ollie Pope will lead England in all three Tests against Sri Lanka starting on August 21.

London: England cricket captain Ben Stokes was ruled out of the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka on Tuesday because of a torn hamstring sustained in a domestic game at the weekend. The 33-year-old Stokes suffered the injury while batting for Northern Superchargers in The Hundred competition on Sunday, and was later seen on crutches.

Stokes will miss all three Tests of England’s series against Sri Lanka which begins on August 21. “The allrounder is aiming to return for England’s winter Test tour of Pakistan,” England said in a statement. The first Test against Pakistan is on October 7 in Multan. England vice captain Ollie Pope will lead the team in Stokes’ absence against Sri Lanka.

“As a result of the scans conducted in Leeds on Tuesday, Stokes will miss England’s three-match Rothesay Test series against Sri Lanka, which begins at Emirates Old Trafford on Wednesday, August 21. There will be no addition to the squad for this series,” the ECB said in a statement.

After recovering from surgery on a left knee injury that had hindered his bowling, he seemed to return to full fitness this summer. Stokes chose to skip the Indian Premier League and T20 World Cup to focus on his recovery, and then led England to a 3-0 series victory over the West Indies, claiming five wickets at an average of 34.20 across three Tests.

However, during The Hundred, he played three matches for Northern Superchargers, scoring only four runs and taking no wickets. England will host Sri Lanka in the first Test at Old Trafford from August 21-25, followed by matches at Lord’s and the Oval.