England cricket star Ben Stokes found himself on the receiving end of a brutal black eye, breaking what is considered the top rule for a cricket coach. Stokes shared a photo on his Instagram account displaying his badly bruised eye, scratches on his face, and a bandaged nose, humorously remarking, “You should see the state of the cricket ball.”
The incident occurred while Stokes was coaching young players in Durham’s indoor facility, where he inadvertently turned his back on a young batsman who hit a ball towards him, resulting in the injury. Stokes was promptly taken to the hospital, where he reassured the young player involved.
Durham coach Ryan Campbell revealed the details of the accident, emphasizing that Stokes acknowledged his mistake and personally reached out to the player to alleviate any concerns. Despite his facial injuries, Stokes remains focused on his recovery from a groin injury sustained during the Ashes Test, aiming to return to action for Durham ahead of England’s upcoming Test against Australia in June.
Looking ahead, Stokes, contracted with England until the end of the 2027 Ashes series, is anticipated to transition into coaching post-retirement. With an impressive record of 120 Test appearances for England, Stokes continues to be a prominent figure in the cricketing world.