Stokes been dealing with knee injury for 'two to three years'

Ben Stokes. Photo / Getty Images

Ben Stokes appears set for surgery on his knee injury after revealing he would miss the rest of England's series against Sri Lanka.

The England and Wales Cricket Board have yet to confirm the news, with an update on the Durham all-rounder's condition due after a consultation on Tuesday to assess suspected cartilage damage.

But they will have to plan without the talismanic 24-year-old for the remaining two Tests after he limped off during the first, an innings win at Headingley.

Stokes wrote on Twitter on Monday evening: 'Devastated to be missing the rest of the series,this has been a ongoing issue for 2/3 years which I've managed to play through until now...

'All the best to the lads in the rest of the series,see you down at @DurhamCricket in the crowd'

England must decide whether his replacement Chris Woakes, a straight swap in an updated 12-man squad announced on Monday morning, steps in or they give a debut to an extra out-and-out seamer in Jake Ball.

Both will travel up to join the squad after close of play on Monday, at the halfway mark in their County Championship matches.

Ball took two for 66 for Nottinghamshire against Hampshire but Woakes may have decisively staked his claim with a career-best nine for 36 as Warwickshire bowled out Durham for 190 at Edgbaston.

Devastated to be missing the rest of the series,this has been a ongoing issue for 2/3 years which I've managed to play through until now...

— Ben Stokes (@benstokes38) May 23, 2016

All the best to the lads in the rest of the series,see you down at @DurhamCricket in the crowd 👍

— Ben Stokes (@benstokes38) May 23, 2016

That prompted a response from England pace bowler Stuart Broad, who tweeted Warwickshire's bowling figures under the words: 'Oh wow @chriswoakes see you in Durham 2moro!'

Stokes' absence will also require flexibility in England's batting order - and Jonny Bairstow is open to promotion from his current No 7 berth.

Bairstow, England's man of the match with 140 and nine catches on his home ground in the innings victory at Headingley, has made a resounding success of batting at number five for Yorkshire over the past 12 months.

He said: 'I'll bat wherever.

'(No 5) is the position I bat for Yorkshire and keep wicket - so if that opportunity comes up, it comes up.

'I'm happy at seven.'