Ben Stokes sidelined due to facial injuries
Ben Stokes faces a month on the sidelines as the England captain recovers from facial injuries sustained during a training session accident, reports BritPanorama.
The all-rounder was struck by a ball hit by academy player Robbie Bowman while practising in the nets at Chester-le-Street last month, resulting in a fractured cheekbone along with cuts and bruising.
Following the incident, Stokes underwent surgery and confirmed via social media that the procedure had gone well. However, his ongoing rehabilitation means the 34-year-old will be unavailable for selection at the start of the county championship campaign.
Stokes had initially targeted the opening round of Rothesay County Championship fixtures against Kent for his return to competitive action, having been absent from the field since England’s final Ashes defeat in January. Those plans have now been shelved, with the Durham star expected to miss the opening four matches of the summer programme.
His anticipated comeback is now pencilled in for May, when matches against Worcestershire and Kent will provide vital match practice ahead of England’s Test series against New Zealand. The extended absence allows Stokes additional time to ensure he is fully fit before international duties resume.
Durham coach Ryan Campbell stated: “He was going to play the first game; he’s been training so hard to be ready. But he won’t play in that obviously, we have to wait for the specialists to clear him. Unfortunately, it’s made a change, the accidental bump. He is pencilled in for Worcester and Kent, but it will just be those two, to be honest.” He added that Stokes is still recovering from the facial injuries and needs to build up again.
Campbell noted that Stokes was fortunate not to be in a worse condition after the incident, considering the severity of the blow. “If it hits him in the eye, it could have been different. That could have been horrific. His cheekbone worked the way it is supposed to: it caved in and looked after the rest of him,” he explained.
As he prepares for his return, Stokes represents a beacon of hope for a team seeking to reclaim its former glory after the Ashes disappointment. With eyes set on the future, the cricketing world will await his comeback with anticipation.
