Ben Stokes 'Lucky to be Alive'

The 34-year-old shared details of the accident, which occurred at Durham in February, for the first time on Wednesday.

He described the moment he was struck in the face, noting that the injury was 'pretty nasty' and initially left his face a 'mess'.

The surgery and subsequent recovery have delayed his return to the sport, forcing a reassessment of his fitness plans for the summer.

Despite the setback, Stokes expressed gratitude that he is still here and able to continue his career.