England captain Ben Stokes (AP/PTI)
Ben Stokes’ return to competitive cricket has been postponed, with the England Test captain set to miss the Durham County Cricket Championship opener against Kent County Cricket Club.
The all-rounder is still recovering from a serious facial injury he suffered earlier this year.
English cricketer Ben Stokes suffered injuries after being hit in the face by a cricket ball during a training session. (Stocksy/Instagram via PTI image)(PTI02_05_2026_000466B)
Stokes suffered a major blow in early February when he was hit in the face by a ball while standing near a net session involving Durham Academy players. The collision resulted in a fractured cheekbone, and photos he later shared on social media showed visible facial damage. The surgery took place shortly after the accident.
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Durham coach Ryan Campbell confirmed on Saturday that the recovery process is taking longer than initially expected, while stressing how serious the situation is.“[The incident] It can be horrific. So, much worse than you think.“A few centimeters a different way it hit him in the eye and it could have been different.“I hit the ball hard. We’re lucky he got away with it,” he said.
The delay comes at a difficult time for Stokes, who recently endured a difficult campaign in which England lost 4-1. Despite the setback, he retained the captaincy of the team, alongside coach Brendon McCullum and director of cricket Rob Key. The series loss prompted an internal review amid reports of differences between Stokes and McCullum during the tour.Off-field problems also emerged, including reports of players – particularly Ben Duquette – indulging in heavy drinking in Noosa after England’s only win of the series.
After his reappointment, Stokes admitted that he had gone through a difficult phase after the disappointing tour.The freak injury has only added to those challenges.Campbell noted that a lot has happened behind the scenes and that Stokes is now focused on resetting and preparing for what lies ahead.“He trained hard to be ready.“He’s got a lot to prove. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know that the Ashes team didn’t go well, and he’s a proud man who wants England to be the best team in the world.”“He, as a professional, is working on getting himself into the right position 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 take part in 50-over cricket this season, having already opted out of The Hundred.With the New Zealand national cricket team touring England this summer – the first Test starts on June 4 – Stokes will aim to get enough match practice in before the series starts.For now, his focus remains on recovery, rhythm and getting back to full fitness before the crucial stage.