Ben Stokes: Surgery Successful After Cricket Ball Injury
- England Test captain Ben Stokes is recovering well after undergoing surgery to repair a facial injury sustained during a training session earlier this month.
- The injury, which occurred while Stokes was coaching academy players at Durham’s indoor cricket centre, left him with a badly swollen right eye, cuts to his cheek and...
- The 34-year-old all-rounder’s recovery comes at a crucial time as he looks to rebuild following a difficult Ashes series and navigate ongoing injury concerns.
England Test captain Ben Stokes is recovering well after undergoing surgery to repair a facial injury sustained during a training session earlier this month. Stokes confirmed the successful procedure via an Instagram post, sharing an image of his still-bruised face with the message: “May not look like it… but the surgery was a success.”
The injury, which occurred while Stokes was coaching academy players at Durham’s indoor cricket centre, left him with a badly swollen right eye, cuts to his cheek and lip, and required packing in his nose to stem the bleeding. He initially revealed the extent of the damage with a characteristically wry post, commenting, “You should see the state of the cricket ball.”
The 34-year-old all-rounder’s recovery comes at a crucial time as he looks to rebuild following a difficult Ashes series and navigate ongoing injury concerns. England suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat in Australia, and Stokes’s own form with the bat was below par, averaging just 18.40 across 10 innings. While his bowling proved more effective, claiming 15 wickets at an average of 25.13, his leadership faced scrutiny, notably from veteran fast bowler James Anderson who questioned Stokes’s public praise of players after defeats.
The facial injury is the latest setback in a recent string of physical challenges for Stokes. He is still recovering from a groin issue suffered during the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney in January. He limped off the field mid-over on day four of that match with a right adductor complaint, hindering his ability to bowl and limiting his impact with the bat, scoring just one run before being dismissed.
Prior to the groin injury, Stokes had already been managing a hamstring issue, a recurrence of an injury initially sustained while playing for Northern Superchargers in the Hundred in August 2024. That initial tear kept him sidelined for two months, causing him to miss England’s Test series against Sri Lanka. He admitted rushing back to fitness for the winter assignments in Pakistan and New Zealand ultimately led to him becoming physically drained.
Stokes underwent scheduled surgery on a torn left hamstring in January 2025, describing himself as “the Bionic Man” in a post on social media. He committed to three months on the sidelines, missing the ICC Champions Trophy as a result. He also underwent knee surgery in 2024 after a prolonged layoff due to a hamstring tear.
Despite the recent setbacks, Stokes remains determined to lead the England Test side. He is expected to feature in County Championship matches for Durham in the early season to regain match fitness before potentially returning to the England lineup for the Test series against New Zealand at Lord’s on .
The ECB is currently conducting a review following the Ashes defeat, and the outcome of that review could influence the direction of the team. England coach Brendon McCullum has already expressed his frustration with some of the post-series commentary, describing it as “out of order.”
While Stokes focuses on his recovery, England fans will be hoping for a swift return to form for their captain, both physically and strategically. His leadership and all-round abilities are vital to England’s ambitions in Test cricket, and his presence will be crucial as they look to rebuild after the disappointment of the Ashes tour.
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