By: The Trek News Desk
England’s Test captain Ben Stokes has sustained a serious facial injury after being hit by a cricket ball, raising fresh concerns over his fitness ahead of the upcoming home season. The 34-year-old all-rounder shared an image on social media revealing the extent of the damage, with his right eye badly swollen, visible bruising on his face and lips, and a bandage placed inside his nose.
Posting the picture on Instagram, Stokes attempted to lighten the moment with humour, writing, “You should see the state of the cricket ball,” accompanied by a laughing emoji. Despite the light-hearted caption, the injury appears to be significant.
Stokes recently returned to England following a disappointing Ashes series, where the team suffered a 4–1 defeat against Australia. In the aftermath of the series, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has launched a review, leaving questions over his future as Test captain. However, Stokes has indicated that he is keen to continue leading the red-ball side.
England head coach Brendon McCullum has described some of the criticism and reaction following the Ashes loss as “out of order,” urging perspective amid the scrutiny.
The all-rounder is no longer part of England’s white-ball plans and will miss the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, which gets underway shortly. He could make his return to competitive action with Durham in the opening rounds of the County Championship before England begin their home Test summer against New Zealand at Lord’s on June 4, coinciding with Stokes’ 35th birthday.
Stokes is also recovering from an adductor injury sustained during the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney in January. The issue prevented him from bowling in Australia’s second innings, capping a frustrating tour in which he performed strongly with the ball but struggled to make an impact with the bat.
Injuries have repeatedly interrupted Stokes’ career in recent years. In 2024, he suffered two hamstring tears, while a shoulder problem ruled him out of part of England’s home series against India. He had also undergone knee surgery in late 2023 to address long-standing issues.
Stokes remains under contract with England until the end of the 2027 home season. It is understood that he may opt out of next month’s Hundred auction, allowing him to focus fully on his recovery and his role in the Test team.
Source: News Agencies
