London: England Test captain Ben Stokes suffered a facial injury after being struck by a cricket ball while coaching at Durham’s academy in the UK.
The 34-year-old all-rounder, who recently returned home following England’s disappointing Ashes campaign, was working with young players at his county when the incident occurred. It is understood Stokes was standing beside the practice nets when he was hit by a ball struck by a batter.
Stokes later shared an image on his Instagram story on Thursday afternoon showing a bloodied cheek, along with visible swelling and bruising around his eye. Accompanying the photo, he wrote: “You should see the state of the cricket ball.”
The severity of the injury has not yet been confirmed. Stokes has not featured in competitive cricket since the conclusion of the Ashes series in Sydney on January 8. England lost the series 4–1, prompting widespread criticism over the team’s performances, preparation and overall culture.
The England captain also sustained an adductor injury on the penultimate day of the Ashes, further limiting his on-field involvement in recent weeks.
Despite the setback, it was announced last week that Stokes will be part of the England Lions coaching staff for the development side’s upcoming series against Pakistan Shaheens, scheduled to take place in the United Arab Emirates next month.
Source: BBC
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