England’s Test captain Ben Stokes has revealed a facial injury after training, sharing an image that showed heavy bruising around his right eye after being struck by a cricket ball. The incident came to light this week as England continues to reflect on a disappointing Ashes campaign.
Stokes posted the photograph on Instagram after returning to England, showing swelling, cuts to his cheek and lip, and a bandage placed inside his nose. Alongside the image, he added a brief caption:
“You should see the state of the cricket ball.”
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The injury does not appear to have altered England’s immediate plans, but its timing has drawn attention given the scrutiny surrounding the side following a 4–1 defeat in Australia. The England and Wales Cricket Board is currently conducting a review of the tour, with wider questions being asked about performance, leadership, and preparation.
England’s head coach, Brendon McCullum, said earlier this week that some of the reaction to the Ashes had gone too far, describing elements of the criticism as “out of order” as the squad turns its attention to upcoming commitments.
Stokes, who is 34, is expected to feature for Durham in the early rounds of the County Championship as he builds towards the Test summer. England begin their home series against New Zealand at Lord’s on 4 June, with fitness and workload management expected to be closely monitored.
The episode is a reminder of the physical toll of elite cricket, particularly during periods of transition. As England prepare for a new phase following the Ashes, attention will remain on how senior figures, including Stokes, balance recovery with leadership demands.
Player welfare and injury management are governed within the sport by frameworks overseen by bodies such as the England and Wales Cricket Board, which sets medical and return-to-play standards across the professional game, reflecting wider approaches used in elite sport to manage risk and recovery.
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