Stokes feels lucky to be alive after incident

BEN

- By ELEANOR CROOKS

England captain Ben Stokes

(ROBBIE STEPHENSON/PA)

Stokes has admitted he feels lucky to be alive after being hit in the face by a cricket ball.The England captain suffered a broken right cheekbone and other facial injuries following the accident that occurred while he was coaching Durham's academy players in February.

Stokes underwent surgery and is on track to play in two County Championship games next month, but he revealed the incident could have been significantly worse.

Speaking in an in-house interview with the England and Wales Cricket Board, the 34-year-old said: “I copped one straight in the face.

“Pretty nasty but, funnily, probably the best result of a bad situation, to be honest. Just a couple of inches one way or the other, I might not be here doing this interview, if I didn’t turn my head round.