Special caution for Stokes ahead of New Zealand series

England captain Ben Stokes, who is recovering from a serious facial injury, is planning to play a maximum of three first-class matches before the upcoming Test series against New Zealand. He may also feature for England Lions during this period.

Stokes, who led England to a 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia, underwent surgery in February after being struck in the face by a ball hit by an academy player in the Durham nets. He had initially planned to return through a block of County Championship fixtures in April and May after recovering from a groin injury sustained in Sydney in January, but his comeback was delayed due to this new setback.

He is now scheduled to play two four-day matches for Durham — against Worcestershire on May 8 and Kent on May 15. He will also consider playing for the England Lions against South Africa A in Arundel on May 22, depending on his fitness. He is expected to join the England squad for the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s on June 4.

In a recorded interview with the ECB, Stokes described the incident as an “unfortunate accident,” adding that it could have been far worse. “The ball hit me straight in the face. It was quite serious, but in a bad situation, it was probably the best possible outcome,” he said.

He added, “A couple of inches either way and I might not be here doing this interview. All things considered, I’ve been very fortunate and I’m grateful for that.”

Stokes also said the injury has delayed his return by around four to five weeks. His possible appearance for the Lions will depend on his physical condition and workload with Durham.

In the same interview, he also spoke about his relationship with England coach Brendon McCullum. Reflecting on England’s performance in Australia, which he described as having “crossed the line of acceptability,” he admitted, “We have ourselves to blame for a lot of it.”