While the world of cricket moves at a rapid pace, England men’s test team skipper Ben Stokes has been sidelined since their 4-1 defeat to Australia in the 2025-2026 Ashes series. To make matters worse, the England captain, who was already recovering from a right adductor injury picked up during the fifth Test in Sydney, survived a nearly life-threatening incident in early February 2026.
He underwent successful surgery for a fractured cheekbone after being struck by a ball during an academy net session for his county side, Durham. Speaking in a pre-recorded interview with the England and Wales Cricket Board media team, Stokes described it as a “freak incident” and admitted he feels “quite lucky”, as it could have gone the other way.
“I copped one straight in the face,” said Stokes. “Pretty nasty but, funnily, probably the best result of a bad situation, to be honest. 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.”
Ben Stokes feels he is lucky
Reflecting further on the incident, Stokes added, “All things considered, although I had pretty major facial surgery to sort it out, I’ve got quite lucky, so I’m pretty thankful for that. It was a pretty scary situation to be in, but thankfully I’m still here, and everything’s alright.”
Despite the setback, Ben Stokes is targeting a return in May 2026, with plans to feature in two County Championship matches for Durham against Worcestershire and Kent, followed by a first-class fixture for England Lions against South Africa A on 22nd May. This will serve as a preparation ahead of a busy international summer, where England are set to host New Zealand in a three-match Test series starting June 4th.
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“Obviously it set everything back about a month, five weeks, with getting back to where I wanted to be to play at the start of the season for Durham. If I can get through the loads that I want to get through and feel pretty good out in the middle, then hopefully I’ll be good to go for the summer,” remarked Stokes on his injury setback and his availability this summer.
Despite recurring injury setbacks, Stokes’ recovery once again highlights his resilience and determination to lead from the front, as he and England head coach Brendon McCullum look to make a statement this summer against New Zealand and Pakistan after a disappointing series in Australia.