`Injured`Stokes out of warm-up match against New Zealand XI

Hamilton (New Zealand), Mar 13 England all-rounder Ben Stokes' hopes of making a Test to return endured a noteworthy blow as he has been ruled of his side's two-day warm-up match against New Zealand XI because of back injury.

In any case, it is trusted that the 26-year-old's injury isn't that serious to put his highly-anticipated come back to Test cricket against New Zealand in jeopardy.

The opening warm-up match would have been Stokes' first match since his last Test appearance against West Indies in September 2017 after which he was precluded the Ashes series in the wake of his alleged involvement in a scuffle outside a Bristol City nightclub on September 25.

Other than Stokes, all-rounder Chris Woakes and Craig Overton will likewise miss the opening practice coordinate because of hamstring and quad wounds separately.

The opening two-day warm-up match between England and New Zealand XI is slated to be held at Hamilton on Wednesday.