In a stark reminder of cricket’s inherent dangers, England Test captain Ben Stokes has pledged to always don a helmet during batting practice and matches following a frightening incident that left his face badly injured. The all-rounder, who was coaching young players at an indoor session in Durham, took a cricket ball straight to the face while standing near the nets.
Stokes shared his ordeal on social media platform X, questioning the wisdom of batsmen facing spin bowling without protective gear. ‘Never made sense to me not wearing a helmet when facing spin. I used to do throwdowns without one. After last week’s accident and being incredibly lucky with the outcome, I will never not wear a helmet again. Cricket balls can do serious damage,’ he posted.
The mishap occurred during a routine training session. Stokes was mentoring youngsters when a ball struck him near his right eye, causing severe swelling on his cheek and lips. He promptly shared a hospital photo revealing the extent of the damage, captioning it with a wry remark about the cricket ball’s condition.
Requiring surgery on his cheekbone, Stokes updated fans via Instagram on February 5, assuring them the procedure was successful despite the visible bruises and stitches around his eye. As one of England’s premier all-rounders, his commitment to safety now extends to advocating for helmets even in non-threatening scenarios like spin practice.
This incident underscores ongoing debates in cricket about protective equipment, especially with Stokes’ history of aggressive play. Currently sidelined from white-ball duties post the 2023 World Cup, England holds second place in Group C of the ongoing T20 series, having won two of three matches. Stokes’ resolve could influence future training protocols across domestic and international setups.