Stokes set to miss month of season

Ben Stokes, the England allrounder, could miss at least the first month of the season following surgery on the wrist he broke thumping a locker during England's final T20 against West Indies in Barbados.

Stokes' frustration got the better of him after his first-ball dismissal to Krishmar Santokie and he took it on the dressing-room furniture, the resulting break ruling him out of the World T20 and the opening phase of the English season with Durham.

An ECB statement said: "Ben Stokes has had an operation on the fractured scaphoid bone in his right wrist. Stokes will be reviewed in six weeks and a schedule for his return to full training will be determined following the review.

The timeframe means England's one-day international against Scotland, on May 9, appears tight for him to make a return and he may have to wait until the T20 and ODIs against Sri Lanka later in the month. The restructuring of the international season - moving the first Test series into June instead of May - means he should have plenty of time to be ready for the Tests against Sri Lanka.