England vs Sri Lanka: Ben Stokes injury leaves England bowling attack light and facing selection dilemma

Stokes appeared to jar his knee on Friday evening and limped off after only a handful of overs on Saturday morning

Ben Stokes suffered a knee injury that forced him off the field on Saturday morning (Getty)

While England remain well on top of Sri Lanka at Headingley, not everything has gone their way on Day Three, with Ben Stokes limping off the field injured with only a few overs bowled.

The all-rounder, who took 1/25 from his seven overs in the first innings, appeared to jar his knee while bowling on Day Two, but after a lengthy consultation with the England physio, was able to continue.

However the warning signs for England fans were visible before the start of play on the third morning, Stokes’ absence noticeable from the team’s daily football kickabout.

In the end though he was fit to take the field when play began, but that was about it, as Stokes limped off with only a few overs bowled.

After assessment and treatment by the England medical team, it was announced that Stokes was unlikely to bowl for the remainder of the day – Yorkshire academy player Jordan Thompson his replacement in the field.

The injury, the severity of which is as yet unknown, could leave England with a selection dilemma ahead of the imminent next Test in Durham.

With Stokes’ possibly unavailable for his home Test next Friday, the selectors will have a few interesting options open to them when they sit down for their selection meeting at the end of the Headingley Test match.

Perhaps the likeliest of these would see Moeen Ali move up the order and Nottinghamshire’s Jake Ball, who was the only unused player in the 12-man squad for the first Test, brought in as a fourth seamer.