England’s star all-rounder Ben Stokes has made a firm commitment to safety following a harrowing training accident in Durham last week. After suffering a severe facial injury during a practice session, the 34-year-old vowed to never again step onto a cricket field without a helmet. The veteran cricketer is using his personal ordeal as a cautionary tale for others in the sport, emphasizing that protection is non-negotiable regardless of the setting.
Ben Stokes suffers frightening facial blow
The incident occurred while Stokes was standing to the side during a nets session, where he was struck by a ball with enough force to cause significant damage. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), he shared the extent of his injuries to serve as a stark disclaimer regarding the inherent dangers of the game. By highlighting the devastating impact a cricket ball can have, he hopes to raise awareness about the importance of constant vigilance and proper gear, even when not actively batting or bowling.
“I never understood the no helmet when spin is bowling , tbf I used to have throw downs with no helmet," Stokes' post read.
“After my accident last week and getting seriously lucky with the outcome I’ll never not wear a helmet , cricket balls do serious damage," it added.
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In typical fashion, the England captain refused to let the gravity of the accident dampen his spirits. Immediately following the injury, he shared a photo of his battered face on Instagram, humorously suggesting that while he was in rough shape, the "state of the cricket ball" was likely worse.
Stokes’s focus has recently shifted back to red-ball cricket following a difficult Ashes campaign in Australia, which ended in a 4-1 series defeat last month. While he has publicly stated his desire to continue leading the Test side, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is currently conducting a formal review of the tour's outcome, leaving his long-term position as captain under a degree of scrutiny.
Despite the ongoing T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, Stokes will not be featuring in the tournament as he is no longer part of England’s white-ball plans. Instead, his path to recovery likely leads through the domestic County Championship with Durham, with the goal of being fully fit to lead England in their home Test series against New Zealand. That series is set to begin at Lord’s on June 4—a date that coincides with his 35th birthday.
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The facial trauma is just one of several physical hurdles Stokes is navigating; he is also rehabilitating an adductor injury sustained during the final Ashes Test in Sydney this past January. That injury severely limited his contribution in the field during the series finale, adding another layer of frustration to a tour where he fought valiantly but ultimately saw his team outclassed by the Australians.
This latest string of injuries continues a frustrating trend for the all-rounder. Over the past two years, he has endured two separate hamstring tears and missed a significant portion of the 2025 home season due to a shoulder issue—all following major knee surgery in late 2023.
Currently contracted with England through the 2027 home season, Stokes is expected to prioritise his Test duties over lucrative short-format opportunities. To ensure he is physically prepared for the upcoming summer of Test cricket, he may even opt to skip next month’s auction for The Hundred, focusing entirely on his fitness and leadership of the national side.