England Test captain Ben Stokes is planning to make his comeback in two County Championship matches for Durham in May, following a 'fortunate' escape from a serious training accident. Stokes suffered a broken cheekbone and other facial injuries when he was struck by a cricket ball while coaching Durham's academy players in February.
After undergoing surgery, Stokes is on track to feature in matches against Worcestershire and Kent, as well as a potential appearance for England Lions against South Africa A, ahead of the first Test of the summer against New Zealand on June 4. 'It was pretty nasty, but probably the best outcome of a bad situation,' Stokes said in an interview with the ECB. 'I was hit straight in the face, and if I hadn't turned my head, the consequences could have been much worse. I've been quite lucky, considering the extent of the injury.' The training incident set back Stokes' preparations by about a month, but he is now nearing full recovery.
'I had to go back to the drawing board and come up with a new plan to get ready for the start of the season,' Stokes explained. 'It was a scary situation, but I'm just grateful to be here and ready to play.' Stokes is expected to lead England in their first Test of the summer against New Zealand at Lord's, as they seek to bounce back from their 4-1 Ashes defeat.
The Test captain has downplayed suggestions of a rift with head coach Brendon McCullum, emphasizing the importance of healthy debate in their relationship. 'When you're in a leadership position with someone, it's impossible to always agree on everything,' Stokes said. 'You need to have discussions and debates to reach a mutual understanding.
Brendon and I may have our differences, but we both want the same thing - to be successful.' England fast bowler Brydon Carse has withdrawn from the IPL due to an injury to his bowling hand, with the severity of the injury still unclear.