England duo to miss remainder of Australia ODI series
Tuesday 19 June 2018 12:27, UK
England are hopeful Ben Stokes will be available to play in their T20 series against India starting next month while Chris Woakes has been ruled out until mid-July.
The pair's absence from the remainder of one-day international series against Australia has been confirmed with Woakes' right quad tear, which he sustained at Headingley in the second Test against Pakistan earlier this month, at least in part due to a flare-up of a chronic right knee problem.
He has had an injection for the knee issue last Monday and will now undertake a rehabilitation and conditioning programme to address both injuries.
Woakes will not be available before the India Royal London ODI series in mid-July but is hoping to be fit to face India in next month's one-day international series - even though England have described his knee injury as "chronic".
He said: "The word 'chronic' makes it look like it's drastic. But the knee is not something I'm worried about."
Woakes said he has had the same ongoing problem for eight or nine years.
"It just flares up - and during Headingley it felt sore - but compared to a couple of weeks ago, (now) it feels like a million dollars," he added.
Meanwhile, Stokes' torn left hamstring is progressing well, just over two weeks since he sustained the injury in the build-up to the second Test against Pakistan.
He can bat as normal and is now able to run at 90 per cent capacity.
The all-rounder will return to a bowling programme this week. The plan is for him to continue his rehabilitation programme with the England squad during the fourth and fifth ODIs against Australia at the Riverside and Old Trafford.
He is expected to be involved in preparation, with a view to being available to play in the T20 series against India starting next month.
