Ben StokesA return to competitive cricket has been pushed back, with the England Test captain missing Durham County Cricket Club’s inaugural County Championship match against Kent County Cricket Club. The all-rounder is still recovering from a severe facial injury earlier this year.
English cricketer Ben Stokes was injured after being hit in the face by a cricket ball during a training session. (Photo via Stockee/Instagram by PTI)(PTI02_05_2026_000466B)
Stokes suffered a setback in early February when a ball hit him in the face as he stood near a nets session involving players from Durham’s academy. The impact resulted in a broken cheekbone, and photos he later shared on social media show visible facial damage. Surgery was performed immediately after the incident. Durham head coach Ryan Campbell confirmed on Saturday that the recovery process is taking longer than initially expected, while stressing how dire the situation could have been. “[The incident] Could have been scary. So, worse than you think. “A few centimeters differently it would have hit him in the eye and it could have been different. He said that the ball hit very hard. We are lucky that he survived. The delay comes at a difficult time for Stokes, who recently endured a tough Ashes campaign where England were beaten 4-1. Despite the setback, he has retained the head coach as well as the captaincy. Brendon McCullum And Director Cricket Rob. The series loss had prompted an internal review amid reports of differences between Stokes and McCullum during the tour. Off-field issues also surfaced, including player reports – notably Ben Duckett – Heavy drinking in Noosa after England’s only series win. After his re-appointment, Stokes admitted he was going through a rough patch after a disappointing tour. The odd injury has only added to those challenges. Campbell hinted that a lot has happened behind the scenes and that Stokes are now focusing on rebuilding and preparing ahead. “He’s been training so hard to be ready. “He has a lot to prove. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know that the Ashes didn’t go well, and he’s a proud man who wants to make England the best team in the world. “He, as a professional, is working on getting it right and ready to go,” he said. According to Campbell, Stokes is unlikely to return to county action before early May. The 2019 World Cup winner is also keen to feature in 50-over cricket this season, having already opted out of The Hundred. With the New Zealand national cricket team due to tour England this summer – the first Test starting on June 4 – Stokes will aim to get plenty of match practice before the series begins. For now, his focus is on recovery, rhythm, and getting full fitness before an important stretch.
