India, April 15 -- While the world of cricket moves at a rapid pace, England men's test team skipper Ben Stokes has been sidelined since their 4-1 defeat to Australia in the 2025-2026 Ashes series. To make matters worse, the England captain, who was already recovering from a right adductor injury picked up during the fifth Test in Sydney, survived a nearly life-threatening incident in early February 2026.

He underwent successful surgery for a fractured cheekbone after being struck by a ball during an academy net session for his county side, Durham. Speaking in a pre-recorded interview with the England and Wales Cricket Board media team, Stokes described it as a "freak incident" and admitted he feels "quite lucky", as it could have gone t...