It’s a additional blow to England in a desperately disappointing collection, which they surrendered with losses within the opening three Checks.

After Australia dominated a lot of the third day of the fifth Check in Sydney, Stokes’ staff are dealing with an enormous battle to keep away from being on the top of a 4-1 defeat.

A severe harm can be a devastating finish to the tour for Stokes, who admitted the collection has taken an enormous private toll.

Earlier than the primary Check in Perth, the 34-year-old spoke of his want to grow to be one of many “fortunate few” England captains to win an Ashes collection down beneath.

By the point his staff arrived in Sydney on the finish of a tour that has been dogged by poor performances, gamers out of shape, accidents and controversy over England’s journey to Noosa, Stokes admitted, “it has been a tricky one”.

On Check Match Particular, BBC chief cricket commentator Jonathan Agnew stated: “If that is the way in which it ends, it’s desperately unhappy.

“He spoke about his goals of flying again from right here having received the Ashes. That will not be taking place. His head is bowed. A very unhappy means for Ben Stokes’ collection to finish. That sums up the entire thing actually.”

Stokes has battled knee, hamstring and shoulder accidents over the previous three years. Previous to the Ashes, the Durham man had not managed to play a full half in any of England’s earlier 4 Check collection.

In Sydney, he was into his twenty eighth over of Australia’s first innings. The 101.1 overs he has bowled on the tour is the second-most he has delivered in a single collection since 2018.

England had already misplaced three different quick bowlers to accidents in a collection during which they deliberate for tempo to be one in all their main weapons.

Mark Wooden performed within the first Check, then was dominated out with a knee harm, whereas Jofra Archer suffered a facet pressure after taking part in within the first three Checks.

Gus Atkinson picked up a hamstring harm within the fourth Check in Melbourne and was dominated out of the Sydney finale.

Though England have misplaced this collection in what’s prone to Stokes’ final likelihood at profitable the Ashes in Australia, he has reiterated his want to stay as captain.

Earlier than this collection he signed a contract extension that ties him to England to finish of the house Ashes in 2027.

With no worldwide or franchise white-ball commitments, Stokes shouldn’t be as a result of play once more till the house summer season. England’s subsequent Check is in opposition to New Zealand in June.