England allrounder Ben Stokes to miss rest of Pakistan Test series

The Durham man will join his family in New Zealand, where his father Ged is recovering from illness, ruling him out of the final two matches

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England star Ben Stokes will miss the conclusion of the Pakistan Test series to be with his family in New Zealand.

The allrounder will leave the bio-secure bubble and return to his homeland, where his father Ged is recovering from illness, next week

Stokes will, therefore, be absent for the final two Tests at The Ageas Bowl starting on August 13 and 21.

According to The Daily Mirror, the 29-year-old informed the rest of the squad of his decision following the three-wicket win over Pakistan at Emirates Old Trafford on Sunday.

An ECB statement asked, "that all media respects the family's privacy at this time".

Former rugby league player Ged was admitted to hospital in December, during England's tour of South Africa, with what was described at the time as a "serious illness".

After 37 days in hospital, Stokes Snr was only deemed able to travel back to New Zealand, where he has continued his recovery for the last seven months, in late January.

Against the backdrop of the family illness, it has been another mesmeric summer for Stokes in an England shirt.

He captained the Test team for the first time in the absence of Joe Root, though the team slipped to defeat to West Indies.

In the next match, he scored a fabulous 176 and an unbeaten 78 as England levelled the series. And though he was unable to bowl in the deciding Test, the hosts completed a 2-1 success.

He endured a quiet match with the bat in the first Test against Pakistan but defied injury to take 2-11 in the second innings - a key contribution en route to victory.

Though ruled out for the remainder of the ongoing Test series, it remains to be seen when Stokes will next be seen in an England shirt.

They face Pakistan in three T20 internationals at the end of the month and the start of September, and are due to take on Australia in a number of white-ball matches next month.

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