Stokes diagnosed with collarbone injury

Ben Stokes battled through pain as he came out to bat at No. 11 in England's first innings after being diagnosed with a "collarbone joint injury" which will prevent him bowling or fielding again in the final Test.

Stokes had some gentle throwdowns during the lunch interval and when James Anderson was dismissed he strode out to support Stuart Broad who tried to farm the strike. However, Stokes was on strike when Wahab Riaz was recalled to the attack and, unable to do anything other than block or leave, wore a short ball on the chest but survived the over.

Next over, though, from Shoaib Malik, Broad took a single off the second ball - which both players seemed unsure over doing - and Stokes was bowled for a duck three balls later after a stand of 10.

Stokes had been for a scan in Dubai yesterday and he will be reassessed in seven to 10 days after which a timetable for his return will be mapped out. The initial outlook appears more positive than was the case when he sustained the injury on the opening day, diving to try and take a catch at short fine leg when he then landed heavily on his right shoulder. Fears were of a dislocation, although that now appears not to have been the case.

The exact details of the injury are yet to be confirmed, but if it involves the AC joint the full recovery time could be around six weeks. However, any type of shoulder injury can have serious implications for a bowler. England's first tour match in South Africa, at Potchefstroom, begins in exactly six weeks with the first Test in Durban on Boxing Day.

"Imaging confirms Stokes has a collarbone joint injury," said the ECB in a press release. "It has already been decided he will be unable to bowl or field for the remainder of this Test match but if circumstances dictate he may bat. His injury will be reviewed in 7-10 days once it has had a chance to settle. A decision about his return to play will be taken at this time."

After the second day's play in Sharjah, Ian Bell said it was down to the remaining 10 players to make up for Stokes' absence. James Anderson and Stuart Broad were outstanding in the first innings with combined figure of 6 for 30 off 28.1 overs but will now have to carry the pace-bowling burden entirely by themselves, while there will be significant pressure on the spin trio of Moeen Ali, Samit Patel and Adil Rashid.

"We've talked a little bit about having to step up as a batting unit, with one man down," Bell said. "Losing someone like Stokesy, with all his attributes, is obviously tough. The bowlers are going to have to recognise that, and step up again in the next 'dig' - which I'm sure they will do."

Stokes had already been rested from the one-day and T20 legs of the UAE tour and was due to fly home after the third Test finishes.