Former England pacer Stuart Broad has revealed that Ben Stokes will join Brendon McCullum in a coaching role for the upcoming England vs. Sri Lanka series. The England Test captain, who has been sidelined for the rest of the summer due to a hamstring injury sustained during The Hundred, will now contribute to the team in a different capacity.

With Stokes unavailable to play, vice-captain Ollie Pope is set to lead the team as England aims to maintain their winning momentum following a 3-0 whitewash over the West Indies. However, Stokes has found a way to stay involved by stepping into a coaching role alongside McCullum.

Broad shared that Stokes had texted him about his new role, saying, "He’s already texted me saying he’s going to be the coach so I don’t know what Baz (Brendon McCullum) is going to be doing." Stokes, known for his hands-on approach, is eager to contribute even while recovering from his injury.

The injury has forced Stokes to take a break from playing, but Broad emphasized the importance of staying active to maintain match fitness“He’s someone who likes to bat, likes to bowl. Ultimately you probably up your injury risk if you’re not playing any sort of intensity cricket.You can’t not play any cricket from the end of the West Indies series through to the start of the Sri Lanka series because your body will then be in the field the first day of Sri Lanka going ‘what are you doing, what’s going on?'" Broad added.

Broad also pointed out that this situation provides England with an opportunity to prepare for future scenarios without Stokes.

“There’s not much you can do about a hamstring really. It’s not as if he landed awkwardly or anything, he was just in deceleration mode. It’s a real shame for the Test-match team because he looked so fit. He’s worked so hard on his fitness," Broad remarked.

“But to use that old sporting saying of ‘take the positives’, it actually gives England the chance to play against Sri Lanka with a make-up of team without Ben Stokes, that they are going to have to trial at some stage. Stokesy hasn’t been able to bowl for a year-and-a-half but has been playing as a batter. What happens the night before Brisbane in 18 months’ time if Stokesy’s not very well?" He concluded.