Stokes ruled out of Oval Test

Ben Stokes has been ruled out of the final Test against Pakistan due to a calf injury sustained during the second Test at Old Trafford, although England still hope he could be involved in the limited-overs series that follows.

Stokes, who missed most of the series against Sri Lanka after suffering a knee injury that required surgery, was making his comeback in Manchester. But he was forced off the pitch midway through a spell of bowling on the fourth day and scans subsequently showed he had torn his right calf. As a result he missed the third Test at Edgbaston and will not play at The Oval.

While an ECB spokesman said Stokes would "work towards being available for selection for the Royal London ODI series starting later this month", England will be taking no risks with his recovery.

Alastair Cook, England's Test captain, suggested on Tuesday that Stokes' latest injury "was in some way related to his previous one" - perhaps indicating that he might have required more time to retain peak physical condition before returning to international cricket - and stated that England should "treat him with care and let's get him back 100 percent before we start talking of him playing again".

Following the Tests, England's five-match ODI series against Pakistan starts on August 24 before a one-off T20 on September 7 completes the international season. Pending security assessments they then leave for the tour of Bangladesh at the end of September - a trip that includes three ODIs and two Tests - before a five-match Test series in India.

Stokes will be vital to the balance of the side on the subcontinent where England will likely want to field two spinners. The performances of Chris Woakes since his comeback against Sri Lanka mean that they are not without another all-round option, but their combined skills mean England could at some stage field a six-man bowling attack with Stokes considered a good enough batsman to play in the top five.

England also confirmed that Adil Rashid had been released to play in Yorkshire's Championship match against Warwickshire, starting at Headingley on Thursday. Rashid and Jake Ball were the unused players in England's squad of 13 for Edgbaston.