England Captain Ben Stokes Recovers from Facial Surgery, Dismisses Coach Rift

England Test cricket captain Ben Stokes has revealed he feels lucky to be alive after undergoing surgery for a broken cheekbone. The injury occurred in February during a net session while coaching academy players at his domestic club, Durham. Stokes stated that the ball struck him directly in the face, noting that a slight difference in impact location could have been fatal. Despite the severity of the injury, which set his recovery back by five weeks, he is expected to return for two County Championship games next month. He aims to be fit to lead England in the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s on June 4, following a disappointing Ashes series defeat in Australia. Additionally, Stokes addressed media reports suggesting a rift with head coach Brendon McCullum. He downplayed these claims, emphasizing their strong working relationship and shared commitment to winning, despite occasional differences in viewpoint. Stokes confirmed that McCullum remains retained as coach and that their aggressive 'Bazball' strategy continues under review by the ECB.