Ben Stokes Reflects on ‘Lucky’ Escape from Serious Facial Injury
England’s premier all-rounder Ben Stokes has provided a detailed account of a freak incident in the nets that left him requiring major facial surgery. In a recent pre-recorded interview with the ECB‘s in-house media team, Stokes described the incident as a ‘freak accident’ that could have had far more devastating consequences.
The Freak Incident in the Nets
Stokes, who recently oversaw England’s 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia, has been out of action due to a series of unfortunate events. After recovering from a groin injury sustained at the SCG in January, he was on the path to return. However, his recovery was set back by a shocking blow to the face during a training session with Durham. He was struck by a ball hit by an academy player, which forced him to undergo surgery in February.
Stokes reflected on the moment with his characteristic resilience, stating: “I copped one straight in the face,” he admitted. “[It was] pretty nasty, but funnily [enough], probably the best result of a bad situation, to be honest.”
The Narrow Escape
Candidly, Stokes membahas the severity of the potential outcome. He noted that a slight shift in the trajectory of of the ball could have led to a tragedy. “A couple of inches one way or the other and I might not be here doing this interview if I didn’t turn my head around,” he explained. “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.”
Road to Comeback: The Plan for May
The facial injury has delayed his return to the first-class cricket by approximately four to five weeks. Despite this setback, Stokes has a clear roadmap for his return to the action. He current plan is to play a maximum of three first-class matches before England’s Test series against New Zealand in June.
- May 8: A four-day match for Durham against Worcestershire.
- May 15: A four-day match for Durham with Kent.
- May 22: A potential appearance for the England Lions against South Africa A at Arundel.
Preparing for the New Zealand Series
Stokes’ goal is the ultimate preparation for the first Test against New Zealand against New Zealand at Lord’s on June 4. He admitted that the potential Lions appearance would depend on how he feels and the workload he manages 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,” he added.
Addressing the Ashes Defeat and Team Dynamics
Throughout the interview, Stokes also touched upon the recent Ashes defeat in Australia. He took ownership of the same, stating that the team had to “take a few bullets” after a performance that he described as “unacceptable.” He conceded that the team had to take responsibility for their struggles in Australia: “We’ve got ourselves to blame for a lot of it,” he admitted.
He also used the platform to defend his relationship with coach Brendon McCullum, reinforcing the stability within the team’s management despite the external pressure and external critics.
