England captain Ben Stokes said he feels “lucky” to still be here after being struck in the face by a cricket ball earlier this year, an incident that required major surgery on his cheekbone.
The all-rounder was hit while helping academy players during a training session with his county side, Durham, in February. The blow left him with a broken cheekbone and forced him to undergo what he described as “pretty major facial surgery”.
Stokes admitted the moment was frightening and that the outcome could have been much worse.
“I copped one straight in the face. 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,” he said in an interview with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
The injury has kept Stokes out of competitive action since England’s Ashes defeat earlier this year.
Stokes Set For Return In May
The 34-year-old is expected to make his comeback for Durham in the County Championship when they face Worcestershire on May 8. He could also play a couple of matches before joining England’s squad for the summer Test series.
England’s first Test of the summer will begin against New Zealand on June 4, giving Stokes time to regain match fitness before the international season begins.
Reflecting On Ashes And Team Direction
In the same interview, Stokes also spoke about the criticism England faced after their 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia earlier this year.
He acknowledged that while some criticism was harsh, much of it was justified.
“A lot of it was almost put forward in a way that was a bit extreme, but when you look at it deeply you agree with some of it,” Stokes said.
The England captain also stressed that the team’s aggressive style of play does not mean every player has to follow the same approach.
“The version of yourself that got you into the position to represent England should be the version you carry on doing,” he added.
Despite the tough Ashes series and the injury setback, Stokes insisted he never considered stepping away from the role. Instead, he said the experience made him even more determined to lead England forward.
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