A brutal blow to the face during coaching has prompted England captain Ben Stokes to make a lifetime commitment to wearing helmets in cricket. Standing netside in a Durham indoor facility, Stokes was struck directly by a speeding ball while instructing juniors, resulting in a nasty gash by his right eye and significant facial swelling.
On X, the all-rounder dissected the recklessness of helmet-free spin facing. ‘It never added up—not wearing a helmet against spin. Throwdowns without one were my norm too. Post-accident last week, with luck on my side, I’ll helmet up every time. Those balls are lethal.’
Immediately post-impact, Stokes posted a swollen-faced selfie from hospital, quipping about the ball’s state. Days later, cheekbone surgery followed, which he confirmed as successful on Instagram despite the stitches and bruising visible in the shot from his bed.
England’s white-ball hiatus for Stokes continues after the 2023 World Cup; he’s out of the 2026 T20 World Cup picture too. Meanwhile, the team sits second in Group C T20 points after two victories in three outings. Stokes’ experience spotlights vulnerabilities in training environments, urging a rethink on protective norms, particularly for spinners where helmets are often skipped.
His story resonates as a wake-up call, blending personal recovery with a push for safer practices that could echo through cricket’s ranks.