Ben Stokes has confirmed his intention to line up for two County Championship fixtures with Durham in May, following a harrowing incident in February that left him with a fractured cheekbone and other facial injuries. The England Test captain was struck directly in the face by a cricket ball while overseeing a training session for Durham's academy squad, an accident he describes as a "lucky" escape given how severe the impact could have been. During the February session, Stokes was coaching young players when a ball ricocheted off a bat and hit him squarely on the right cheek. The blow resulted in a broken right cheekbone, a bruised nose and several cuts around his mouth.
He was rushed to hospital, where surgeons performed an operation to reset the bone and repair the damage. In a candid interview with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), Stokes reflected on the episode, saying, "It was pretty nasty, but oddly the best possible outcome from a bad situation. I got hit straight in the face – just a few inches off centre – and if I hadn't turned my head at the last second I might not be here talking to you now." He went on to explain that the injury forced him to miss a month of preparation, delaying his plans to feature for Durham at the start of the season.
"All things considered, I had major facial surgery – it was a mess under the cheekbone – but I got out of it quite lucky. I'm really grateful for that," Stokes added.
The recovery timetable has now been adjusted, and the former Nottinghamshire star is on track to make his Durham debut against Worcestershire on May 8, followed by a clash with Kent on May 15. There is also a realistic chance he could be called up for the England Lions side when they face South Africa A later in the month, providing him with a valuable warm‑up before the first Test of the summer against New Zealand at Lord's on June 4. Stokes described the rehabilitation process as a rapid return to the drawing board. "I had to quickly devise a plan to get fit enough for those two county games before the Test summer begins.
I'm now at the back end of that programme, but it was a scary situation. Thankfully I'm still here and everything's alright," he said. Beyond his personal comeback, Stokes also addressed speculation about his relationship with England head coach Brendon McCullum. After a disappointing 4‑1 Ashes defeat in Australia, rumours swirled that the captain and the Kiwi coach were at odds.
Stokes dismissed those suggestions, emphasizing that healthy disagreement is a natural part of any successful sporting partnership. "When you're in a leadership role alongside someone else, it's unrealistic to think you'll agree on everything.
A uniform chorus of agreement would create a toxic environment. You need debate, you need discussion, and that leads to the outcomes we both want," he explained. He noted that while he and McCullum share many common goals, they also have differing viewpoints on certain issues.
"We agree about 95 per cent of the time. For the remaining five per cent, we talk it through and reach a consensus. Saying we weren't aligned is a massive overstatement," Stokes asserted, reinforcing the idea that constructive conflict can drive a team forward.
In other England cricket news, fast bowler Brydon Carse has withdrawn from the Indian Premier League (IPL) due to an injury to his bowling hand. The exact seriousness of the injury has not been disclosed, and it remains unclear whether Carse will be fit for England's summer programme.
This marks the second consecutive season Carse has missed an IPL campaign – the first time being a toe injury that ended his 2025 stint before it began. Carse, now 30, last played competitive cricket in the fifth Test of the Ashes series in Sydney, where he was England's leading wicket‑taker with 22 dismissals at an average of 30.31. The upcoming English summer promises a packed schedule, beginning with a three‑Test series against New Zealand starting on June 4, followed by further home internationals. Fans can catch the action live on Sky Sports, or stream matches without a contract via the NOW platform.
Overall, Stokes' determination to return to the field, his pragmatic view on leadership dynamics, and the broader context of England's preparations underscore a period of rebuilding and optimism for the national side as they aim to rebound from the Ashes setback and make a strong impression in the forthcoming Test season.