Ben Stokes 'Lucky to Be Alive'

The 34-year-old shared details of the incident for the first time, describing the moment of impact as 'pretty nasty.' The surgery was necessary to repair significant damage to his face, which he described as a 'mess' before the procedure.

While the injury has delayed his return to the field, Stokes is now focused on a gradual recovery and reassessing his fitness plan.

The cricket community has rallied around the captain, whose resilience has been praised by teammates and fans alike.