Durham all-rounder Ben Stokes out for six-months

Durham all-rounder Ben Stokes faces a six-month lay-off after undergoing surgery on his long-standing finger injury.

The 20-year-old suffered a fracture dislocation of his right index finger while fielding against Lancashire in the LV= County Championship in May, and suffered a recurrence of the injury during England's fourth one-day international against India in September.

He had an operation on the problem in the United States earlier this week and faces a three-month healing period followed by three months of "graded recovery and rehabilitation", his county side confirmed in a statement today.

Stokes said: "It's always frustrating to be on the sidelines for any length of time and I am naturally disappointed to miss out on the opportunity to be considered for selection for England this winter.

"My priority now will be to work hard on my rehabilitation over the next six months and make sure I am fully fit and available to start the season with Durham next April."

After recovering from the initial injury, Stokes made his England debut against Ireland in August and has played five ODIs, scoring 30 runs in three innings, as well as scoring a brisk 31 in his only innings in two Twenty20 matches.

However, he has yet to resume bowling since the injury, having taken a career-best six for 68 against Hampshire in April as his medium pace emerged as a genuine weapon early in the season.

PA