Ben Stokes considers himself ‘lucky’ after surviving a freak injury: ‘It was a pretty scary situation’

England cricket captain Ben Stokes, recovering from a serious injury, expressed his gratitude for surviving.

Updated on: Apr 15, 2026, 19:33:50 IST

Written by HT Sports Desk | Edited by Probuddha Bhattacharjee

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While the world of cricket moves at a rapid pace, England men’s test team skipper Ben Stokes has been sidelined since their 4-1 defeat to Australia in the 2025-2026 Ashes series. To make matters worse, the England captain, who was already recovering from a right adductor injury picked up during the fifth Test in Sydney, survived a nearly life-threatening incident in early February 2026.

Ben Stokes suffered injuries after being struck on the face by a cricket ball during a training session. (Ben Stokes Insta)

He underwent successful surgery for a fractured cheekbone after being struck by a ball during an academy net session for his county side, Durham. Speaking in a pre-recorded interview with the England and Wales Cricket Board media team, Stokes described it as a “freak incident” and admitted he feels “quite lucky”, as it could have gone the other way.

“I copped one straight in the face,” said Stokes. “Pretty nasty but, funnily, probably the best result of a bad situation, to be honest. 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 round.”

Ben Stokes feels he is lucky

Reflecting further on the incident, Stokes added, “All things considered, although I had pretty major facial surgery to sort it out, I've got quite lucky, so I'm pretty thankful for that. It was a pretty scary situation to be in, but thankfully I'm still here, and everything's alright."

Despite the setback, Ben Stokes is targeting a return in May 2026, with plans to feature in two County Championship matches for Durham against Worcestershire and Kent, followed by a first-class fixture for England Lions against South Africa A on 22nd May. This will serve as a preparation ahead of a busy international summer, where England are set to host New Zealand in a three-match Test series starting June 4th.

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“Obviously it set everything back about a month, five weeks, with getting back to where I wanted to be to play at the start of the season for Durham. If I can get through the loads that I want to get through and feel pretty good out in the middle, then hopefully I'll be good to go for the summer,” remarked Stokes on his injury setback and his availability this summer.

Despite recurring injury setbacks, Stokes' recovery once again highlights his resilience and determination to lead from the front, as he and England head coach Brendon McCullum look to make a statement this summer against New Zealand and Pakistan after a disappointing series in Australia.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Probuddha Bhattacharjee
Probuddha Bhattacharjee is a sports writer and analyst with expertise spanning cricket, football, and multi-sport events, with a strong emphasis on data-driven journalism and tactical storytelling. He currently focuses on international cricket, the Indian Premier League, global tournaments, and emerging trends shaping modern sport, blending advanced statistics with strong narrative context to explain performance, strategy, and decision-making. His work aims to bridge the gap between numbers and storytelling, helping readers understand not just what happened on the field, but the tactical and structural reasons behind it. Trained in data journalism through the Google News Initiative (GNI) Data Journalism Lab, Probuddha works extensively with ball-by-ball datasets, performance metrics, and trend-based modelling to produce evidence-backed reports, explainers, and long-form features. His analytical approach focuses not only on outcomes but also on process—selection strategies, phase-wise tactics, workload management, and the influence of preparation and planning on match results. He is particularly interested in how statistical patterns reshape conventional cricketing narratives and provide clearer tactical insight for modern audiences. Beyond cricket, Probuddha has written analytical and news-driven pieces on football and other major sporting events, with a growing interest in sports governance, scheduling dynamics, and the economics of elite competitions. He also tracks how rule changes, franchise structures, and broadcast pressures influence the evolution of contemporary sport. He has previously contributed to platforms such as OneCricket, Sportskeeda, and CrickTracker, and continues to specialise in analytical storytelling, live coverage, and audience-focused reporting. His work prioritises clarity, context, and credibility, while consistently exploring innovative ways to present data through accessible narratives and structured match analysis.Read More

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