Ben Stokes found himself on the receiving end of a brutal black eye, breaking what is considered a cardinal rule in cricket coaching. The England cricket luminary shared a photo on Instagram revealing his heavily bruised eye, facial scratches, and a bandaged nose, humorously remarking, “You should see the state of the cricket ball.”
The cause of Stokes’ injuries was disclosed later on. While coaching young players at Durham’s indoor facility, he was struck by a ball hit by academy player Robbie Bowman. Following the incident, Stokes was promptly taken to the hospital. Durham coach Ryan Campbell recounted that Stokes acknowledged breaking the primary coaching rule of not turning away from the batter.
Stokes, amidst dealing with facial injuries, is also recovering from a groin injury sustained during the Ashes Test. Nonetheless, he is eyeing a return to action for Durham ahead of England’s upcoming Test against Australia in June. Campbell expressed confidence in Stokes’ form during practice sessions and hinted at his potential participation in county championship matches before the Test.
Looking ahead, Stokes remains committed to England until the conclusion of the 2027 Ashes series, with plans to transition into coaching post-retirement. With an impressive track record of 120 Test appearances for England, Stokes continues to be a prominent figure in the cricket world.
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