Ben StokesA return to competitive cricket has been delayed, with the England Test captain set to miss Durham County Cricket Club’s first County Championship match against Kent County Cricket Club. The all-rounder is still recovering from a serious facial injury he suffered earlier this year.
England cricketer Ben Stokes was hit in the face by a cricket ball during training. (stokesy/Instagram via PTI Photo) (PTI02_05_2026_000466B)
Stokes suffered the blow in early February when a ball struck him in the face while he was standing near a tennis court where Durham Academy players were attending. The impact resulted in a fractured cheekbone, and photos he later shared on social media showed clear facial damage. The surgery was performed shortly after the incident.
Durham head coach Ryan Campbell confirmed Saturday that the recovery process is taking longer than initially expected while emphasizing how serious the situation could be.“[The incident] It can be scary. So, it’s much worse than you think.“A few centimeters away, hitting his eye in a different way, the outcome could have been different.“The ball was hit pretty hard. We were lucky he got away with it,” he said.The postponement comes at a challenging time for Stokes, who recently endured a difficult Ashes match in which England were beaten 4-1. Despite the setback, he retained captaincy alongside his head coach Brendan McCallum and director of cricket Rob Key. The series defeat prompted an internal review amid reports that Stokes and McCullum had differences during the tour.Off-the-field issues also surfaced, including reports from players — notably Ben Duckett – Drinking in Noosa after England’s only win of the series. Following his reappointment, Stokes admitted he had been going through a tough time following a disappointing tour.Unusual injuries only add to those challenges.Campbell said a lot has happened behind the scenes and Stokes is now focused on resetting and getting ready for the future.“He’s been training hard to be ready.“He has a lot to prove. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know that the Ashes are not going well and he is a proud man who wants England to be the best team in the world.“As a professional, he’s trying to be ready,” he said.Campbell said Stokes was unlikely to return to the county team before early May. The 2019 World Cup winner was also keen to play 50-over cricket this season but has opted out of the hundred.The New Zealand national cricket team will tour England this summer – with the first Test starting on June 4 – and Stokes will aim to get enough match practice before the series begins.For now, his focus remains on recovery, rhythm and getting back to full fitness ahead of crunch time.
