Ben Stokes reflects on life-threatening injury
Ben Stokes has revealed he considers himself fortunate to still be alive following a frightening incident in February that left him with a fractured cheekbone, reports BritPanorama.
The England Test captain sustained the injury when a cricket ball struck him directly in the face while he was working with young players at Durham’s academy. The 34-year-old all-rounder underwent what he described as “pretty major facial surgery” to repair the damage.
Stokes shared with the England and Wales Cricket Board that he felt “pretty lucky” under the circumstances. “I copped one straight in the face. Pretty nasty but, funnily, probably the best result of a bad situation, to be honest,” he noted. He added that a split-second reaction likely averted a much worse outcome, with consequences that could have been devastating.
Standing at the side of a training net during an indoor session, a ball driven by a youth player struck him with considerable force. Stokes posted a graphic image on social media after the incident, showcasing significant bruising around his eye and a visibly grazed cheek. “It was a bit of a mess under here,” he commented, gesturing to his injured cheekbone.
The injury disrupted Stokes’s preparations for the new season by about a month to five weeks, necessitating a reassessment of his plans. Stokes said, “I just had to quickly go back to the drawing board and put a plan together to get me ready to play a couple of games for Durham before the Test summer starts.”
Having not played competitive cricket since England’s Ashes campaign ended in January, he is now nearing the end of his rehabilitation and anticipates returning for Durham in the County Championship against Worcestershire on May 8. He is scheduled to captain England in the opening Test against New Zealand on June 4, coinciding with his 35th birthday.
The upcoming three-match series against the Black Caps will be followed by fixtures against Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka later in the summer. Stokes has indicated that he and head coach Brendon McCullum will adapt their approach this summer while firmly dismissing any suggestions of discord between them.
As he prepares to return to the pitch, Stokes’s outlook remains grounded by the fragility of a cricketing career, a reminder that every match—and indeed, every day—can hang by a thread. It’s a stark reflection on how moments in sport can translate into life lessons, often unexpectedly.
