Stokes to miss Champions League but Root back in England squad
Associated PressLONDON — England cricket star Ben Stokes has been left out of the squad for the Champions Trophy in February and March next year because of injury. Stokes, England’s test captain, has not played a one-day international since the 2023 World Cup but said he was open to returning to the white-ball set-up following Brendon McCullum’s appointment as head coach across all formats in September. However, the 33-year-old Stokes suffered a recurrence of a hamstring problem during the recent test series in New Zealand and was not included in a 15-man squad for the Champions Trophy announced by the England and Wales Cricket Board on Sunday. ___ England squad: Jos Buttler, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Jamie Smith, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Saqib Mahmood, Phil Salt, Mark Wood.