Durham [England], February 5: England Test captain Ben Stokes escaped serious injury after a freak training accident left him with visible facial bruising during a session at Durham’s training facilities.
The 34-year-old was not batting or actively involved in a drill when the incident occurred. A cricket ball, struck at pace from the nets, unexpectedly hit Stokes on the right side of his face as he stood nearby.
🩹 Extent of the Injury
Reports described Stokes as suffering a swollen and heavily bruised right eye, a cut on his cheek, and a bloody nose, with suggestions he may have also sustained minor cuts to his lip. Despite the alarming appearance of the injuries, there are no immediate concerns of serious damage.
📱 Stokes’ Light-Hearted Reaction
True to his reputation for grit and humour, Stokes quickly reassured fans by sharing a selfie on social media, showing the extent of his facial injuries.
Alongside the image, he wrote:
“You should see the state of the cricket ball,”
accompanied by a laughing emoji.
The post quickly drew attention online, with fans, teammates, and fellow cricketers flooding social media with well-wishes and messages of support, praising Stokes for his trademark resilience.
⏳ Part of a Challenging Recovery Phase
The incident comes during a testing period for Stokes, who has been carefully managing his workload following a series of injuries in recent months. He has been on a phased return to training after recovering from a groin strain suffered late in England’s previous Ashes campaign, along with earlier hamstring and shoulder issues.
While it remains unclear whether the facial injury will impact his short-term availability, Stokes’ upbeat response suggests no major setback to his recovery plans.
England’s talismanic all-rounder continues to balance his rehabilitation with leadership duties, once again underlining the toughness and mentality that define his role in the team.
