Ben Stokes traumatised after facial smash, vows helmet rule for life

England captain Ben Stokes survived a horrifying eye injury. The English Test captain has undergone a successful surgery after sustaining a serious injury. He was struck in the eye by a cricket ball earlier this month. The star all-rounder, after sustaining a major blow, took to Instagram to showcase his bruised and swollen right eye and cheek.

Ben Stokes, previously posted on Instagram, had been hit in the face by a ball, leaving his eye severely swollen and bruised. There was also a cut on his cheek and lip, and a bandage was pushed up his nostril. He stated in his Instagram Story, “You should see the state of the cricket ball.”

Ben Stokes eye surgery is successful

After the surgery, Ben Stokes posted, “May not look like it… But the surgery was a success.” He has dropped yet another post for the young cricketers and the batters, as he has to explain the matter of why batters play without helmets while a spinner is bowling.

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I never understood the no helmet when spin is bowling , tbf I used to have throw downs with no helmet 🤦‍♂️

After my accident last week and getting seriously lucky with the outcome I’ll never not wear a helmet , cricket balls do serious damage !!!!

— Ben Stokes (@benstokes38) February 15, 2026

He stated via X (formerly Twitter) that cricket balls may cause major injury and should be handled with extreme attention and care. “I never understood the no helmet when spin is bowling, tbf I used to have throw downs with no helmet,” Stokes wrote on X.

Ben Stokes suggests that cricketers should wear helmets even against spinners

He further added, “After my accident last week and getting seriously lucky with the outcome, I’ll never not wear a helmet, cricket balls do serious damage.” The batters are never safe while playing the spinners, as the ball might hit their head with the spinner bowling a bouncer, and any other facial part of the cricketer.

Many cricketers have died from concussion injuries, with the notable one being Phil Hughes, who was struck by a bouncer by Sean Abbott on the back of the neck despite wearing a helmet. Since then, helmet manufacturers have made sure to add an extra cushion on the back.

The game also allows physio to run on the ground if the ball is struck on the helmets and to check if the players have been okay and there has been no concussion injury that has taken place after being hit on the helmet.

Will Stokes captain England in the next series?

England’s Test captain has been called into question after England’s horrific 1-4 loss against Australia in the last Ashes series. England, under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, has just won 25 Tests in 44 matches. After a dominant start (14 wins in 19 tests), form has fallen to an 11-13 record in the next 25 tests.

The Bazball theory has not worked well in the traditional format of the game. As the former English cricketers and cricket pundits have criticised the approach in the oldest format of the game.

Ben Stokes has retired from the white-ball format and only plays one format. He has not played since the last Ashes series and will next be featuring in the upcoming Test series against New Zealand. Stokes will be hopeful to get his team back on track against the Kiwis.

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