England Test captain Ben Stokes is on track to make a comeback in May, following a serious training accident that left him with a broken cheekbone. Stokes, who underwent surgery after the incident, is planning to play for Durham in two County Championship matches and potentially feature for England Lions against South Africa A. The all-rounder has expressed gratitude for what he considers a lucky escape, saying that the outcome could have been much worse if he had not turned his head at the right moment.
Stokes is now working towards getting back to full fitness ahead of the first Test of the summer against New Zealand in June. He has also dismissed rumors of a rift with head coach Brendon McCullum, emphasizing the importance of debate and discussion in their working relationship. Meanwhile, England fast bowler Brydon Carse has withdrawn from the IPL due to an injury to his bowling hand, with the severity of the injury still to be determined.