Stokes is '˜devastated' to miss rest of Test run

England's Ben Stokes holds his knee before going off injured during day two of the Test at Headingley (Picture: Mike Egerton/PA Wire).

Last night the England and Wales Cricket Board had not confirmed the news, with an update on the Durham all-rounder’s condition due after a consultation today to assess suspected cartilage damage.

But they will have to plan without the talismanic 24-year-old for the remaining two Tests after he limped off during the first, an innings win at Headingley.

Stokes wrote on Twitter last night: “Devastated to be missing the rest of the series,this has been an ongoing issue for 2/3 years which I’ve managed to play through until now...

“All the best to the lads in the rest of the series,see you down at @DurhamCricket in the crowd”

England must decide whether his replacement Chris Woakes, a straight swap in an updated 12-man squad announced yesterday morning, steps in or they give a debut to an extra out-and-out seamer in Jake Ball.

Both were due to travel up to join the squad after close of play last night at the halfway mark in their Specsavers County Championship matches.

Ball took 2-66 for Nottinghamshire against Hampshire while Woakes claimed a career-best 9-36 as Warwickshire bowled out Durham for 190 at Edgbaston.

Stokes’s absence could see Jonny Bairstow promoted from his current No 7 berth.

Bairstow has replaced Jos Buttler in the Test team, and still hopes they can play white-ball cricket together.

He said: “I want to play every format I can for England, absolutely – that’s an ambition I have, and I want to succeed.

“If that opportunity does arise, I don’t see any reason why Jos and I can’t play in the same side.”

Bairstow will not be taking his current level of outstanding achievement for granted, though.

“Form can be taken from you very quickly,” he said. “It only takes a couple of bits to go wrong, and all of a sudden potentially you can be out of form.”

Arthur’s May day call over Tests in north: Page 19.