England Test captain Ben Stokes successfully underwent facial surgery on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, following a freak accident during a training session. The 34-year-old all-rounder, who was struck in the face by a cricket ball while standing at the side of the nets, shared the news with his trademark humor on Instagram, posting from his hospital bed: “May not look like it… but the surgery was a success.”
The injury occurred last week while Stokes was working with academy players at Durham’s indoor cricket centre. Reports indicate he was hit by a ball struck by a batter, resulting in a broken cheek and a heavily bruised right eye.
Recovery and Return Timeline
Stokes is currently juggling two separate recoveries, having also sustained an adductor (groin) injury during the final Ashes Test in Sydney last month. His roadmap for return includes:
- Coaching Role: Despite the surgery, Stokes is still expected to join the England Lions coaching staff (alongside Andrew Flintoff and Moeen Ali) for their white-ball series against the Pakistan Shaheens in Abu Dhabi, scheduled for February and March.
- Domestic Cricket: He aims to regain match fitness by playing for Durham in the early rounds of the County Championship.
- International Return: His highly anticipated return to the Test side is slated for the home series against New Zealand, starting June 4, 2026—coincidentally his 35th birthday—at Lord’s.
England Lions Squads Announced
While Stokes rehabilitates, the selectors have named the squads for the upcoming tour of the UAE. Jordan Cox and Dan Mousley will lead the T20 and 50-over sides, respectively.
| Squad | Key Players |
| T20 (17 players) | Jordan Cox (C), Saqib Mahmood, Will Smeed, Sonny Baker, James Coles |
| 50-Over (16 players) | Dan Mousley (C), Matthew Potts, James Rew, Ben McKinney, Scott Currie |