Ben Stokes set to undergo scans on injured hamstring after the England captain was pictured on crutches after the Hundred - with first Test against Sri Lanka just nine days away

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 Ben Stokes will undergo scans on his damaged left hamstring on Tuesday that are expected to confirm he is out of next week’s first Test against Sri Lanka.

England’s medical team allowed the injury to settle in the aftermath of Sunday evening’s Northern Superchargers’ win over Manchester Originals in the Hundred that left Stokes as a major casualty.

The 33-year-old is in danger of missing the rest of the international summer if the damage he incurred is anything more than a strain while a grade three tear would also jeopardise his participation in October’s Test tour of Pakistan.

Stokes, opening the batters for the visitors at Emirates Old Trafford, pulled up after haring through for a leg bye from the 12th ball of the match’s second innings and collapsed to the turf, holding the back of the left knee operated on last December and tossing his gloves away in frustration.

Stokes also punched his leg in obvious anguish while being treated by the Superchargers medical team, before limping off the field and being wheeled into the pavilion on a gurney.

Ben Stokes was pictured arriving at his Manchester hotel on Sunday with the need of crutches

The England skipper cut a cheerful figure despite the prospect of him missing England's first Test against Sri Lanka

He was later seen using crutches joining his team-mates in the away dugout and later leaving the ground, where England take on the Sri Lankans from next Wednesday at the start of a series of three back-to-back matches spanning 21 days.

Ollie Pope is England’s vice-captain and would be the obvious choice to lead the side in Stokes’ absence.

Asked by Mail Sport recently about the prospect of having to lead the side in the event of a Stokes injury between now and the end of 2024 - the three Tests in Pakistan are followed by three more in New Zealand - Pope said: ‘If it required me to do it, I'd be pretty clear about how I want to go about things.’

Pope, 26, has little captaincy experience but did deputise for Surrey earlier this summer when regular Twenty20 captain Chris Jordan was away on international duty.

‘I said I’d make the right decision sometimes and be unlucky and that I would make the wrong decision and get lucky,’ Pope said.

‘Having that kind of mindset of being at peace when you’ve made a decision and sticking with it is the way to go for me.’

Stokes also aggravated a damaged finger the last time he played in the Hundred three years ago, which led to him being touch and go for the Ashes the following winter.

Stokes has been ever-present since he appointed captain partway through 2022 and has played in the last 26 Test matches

He was being assessed in the dressing room last night and will undergo further checks to assess the level of the damage today.

England have already lost Zak Crawley for the remainder of the home season due to a fractured finger, with Dan Lawrence set to open for the first time in Tests.

Stokes has played when impaired during a 26-match sequence as England captain due to a long-standing knee injury, but successful surgery allowed him to perform in his customary all-rounder role during the 3-0 whitewash of West Indies.

He scored three half-centuries and took five wickets across the three matches and reflected positively about influencing matches with both bat and ball.