LONDON, (Reuters) – England all-rounder Ben Stokes has been ruled out of this month’s World Twenty20 in Bangladesh with a fractured hand, the England and Wales Cricket Board said yesterday.
Chris Woakes has been added to the 15-man squad to replace Stokes, who suffered the injury when he struck a locker in the dressing-room following his dismissal in the Twenty20 international against West Indies in Barbados on Thursday.
“I am really disappointed to be missing out on going to a World T20 with England – it was a huge error in judgement following a frustrating tour for me and I deeply regret my behaviour,” Stokes said in an ECB statement.
“I would like to wish the team all the very best in Bangladesh.”
Stokes, 22, enjoyed a successful Ashes tour of Australia, making a century in the third test in Perth which was England’s only individual hundred in a series they lost 5-0, and establishing himself in the side.
But he endured a dismal tour of West Indies, making only nine runs in three one-day internationals, and four runs in two Twenty20s, including a golden duck in the third game of the series.
Stokes did not take an international wicket in the Caribbean.
England’s preparations for the Twenty20 World Cup had already suffered a blow this week with the withdrawal of all-rounder Joe Root due to a thumb injury.
Experienced batsman Ian Bell was called up to replace him.
