England Test captain Ben Stokes has opened up about a terrifying incident that left him feeling fortunate to be alive after a cricket ball struck him directly in the face. The 34-year-old allrounder sustained severe facial injuries, including a broken right cheekbone, during a coaching session with Durham's academy players in February, necessitating major surgery.
A Narrow Escape from Tragedy
In an interview released by the England and Wales Cricket Board, Stokes described the freak accident as "pretty nasty" but noted it could have been far worse. "I copped one straight in the face," he said. "Just a couple of inches one way or the other, I might not be here doing this interview if I didn't turn my head round." He expressed gratitude for his survival, stating, "All things considered, although I had pretty major facial surgery to sort it out, it was a bit of a mess ... I've got out quite lucky. So pretty thankful for that."
Recovery and Return to Play
The injury delayed Stokes's preparations by about a month to five weeks, forcing him to reassess his plans for the start of the season with Durham. "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," he explained. Stokes is now nearing the end of his recovery, describing the situation as "pretty scary" but relieved that everything is all right.
Looking Ahead to the Test Summer
Stokes is expected to be fit to lead England in the first Test of the English summer against New Zealand at Lord's on June 4. This match comes as the team aims to rebound from a disappointing 4-1 Ashes series loss in Australia. Reflecting on the criticism faced by the team for their preparation, performances, and behavior during the Ashes, Stokes acknowledged the challenges but did not shy away from accountability.
Addressing Ashes Criticism
"I think that a lot of it was warranted," Stokes said of the feedback. "A lot of it was put forward in a way that was a bit extreme but when you look at it deep, deep, deep, you agree with some of it." He added that some criticism felt harsh and unnecessary, likening it to "the knives are out." However, he emphasized the need for the team to accept responsibility, stating, "Performing like we did in Australia is disappointing to a lot of people, and I feel like a word like 'unacceptable' for us to perform that way would be close because we're a much better team than that."
Stokes concluded by highlighting the lessons learned from the experience, noting, "Overall, it was pretty tough and a lot of it we've got to take blame as players and as a team and as an organisation. You learn from these things."
