England cricket star Ben Stokes recently took to Instagram to reveal some brutal facial injuries and it has now been revealed how he ended up with bruising all over his eye
Ben Stokes apparently broke the ‘number one rule of being a cricket coach’ as he picked up a brutal black eye. The England cricket star took to Instagram earlier this week to show an image of his shocking facial injuries.
Stokes’ eye was badly bruised, while he had scratches on the side of his face, as well as a bandage in his nose. Fortunately, the 34-year-old was able to see the funny side as he wrote: “You should see the state of the cricket ball.”
It has now been revealed how Stokes picked up his injuries. He was coaching academy players in Durham’s indoor facility, with young batsman and wicketkeeper Robbie Bowman hitting a ball towards the England Test skipper.
Stokes was rushed to hospital in the aftermath, where he got in touch with Bowman to reassure him. Durham coach Ryan Campbell said: “Stokesy said he broke the No1 rule of being a coach in the nets – never turn your back on the batter!
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“By chance, our medical team were at the ground doing simulations. Suddenly, they had a real emergency to deal with.
“Robbie hit the ball hard. Players shouted out a warning but Stokesy ended up turning his head towards the ball. Scottie Borthwick, his great mate, drove him to hospital and our physio went as well.
“I’ll tell you this because Stokesy never would. He phoned Robbie Bowman from his hospital and told him not to worry.
“He’d have known that Robbie would have been beside himself but Ben said it was his fault. That sums up the sort of bloke Stokesy is.”
Stokes’ facial injuries are just the latest in a long line of issues that he has been contending with. He is currently in the middle of recovering from a groin injury that he suffered during the final Ashes Test.
But he could soon return to action for Durham ahead of England’s first Test of the summer against Australia in June. Campbell added: “Ben has been looking good when batting in the nets.
“He has already indicated that he intends playing three or four county championship matches before that Test match.”
Stokes remains contracted with England until the end of the 2027 Ashes series and is expected to go into coaching once he decides to retire. Stokes has so far made 120 Test appearances for England.
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