Stokes to Miss Opening Month of 2026 County Season

England Test captain Ben Stokes will miss the opening month of the 2026 County Championship season as he continues recovering from a broken cheekbone sustained during a training session in early February. The 34-year-old allrounder, who plays for Durham, was struck in the face by a ball hit by academy prospect Robbie Bowman while assisting with nets practice at the club's Chester-le-Street facility. Stokes underwent surgery shortly after the incident and shared images on social media showing the extent of the facial damage, including cuts and bruising.

Durham head coach Ryan Campbell confirmed the extended timeline at the club's preseason media day, noting that specialists have advised against a return before early May. Stokes had aimed to feature in the opener against Kent next week and up to three of Durham's first six fixtures to build match fitness. Instead, he is now targeting games against Worcestershire on May 8 and Kent later that month, providing preparation ahead of England's three-Test series against New Zealand starting June 4 at Lord's.

The injury adds to a challenging period for Stokes, who has not played competitive cricket since hobbling off with an adductor...