Ben Stokes marks comeback with two wickets after recovering from cheekbone injury

NEW DELHI: Ben Stokes made an impressive return to competitive cricket after recovering from the cheekbone injury he suffered in February. The England captain picked up two wickets and bowled a full 20 overs for Durham on Saturday in his comeback appearance. It was Stokes’ first match in any format since the fifth and final Ashes Test against Australia in early January.

Representing Durham in a second-division County Championship match against Worcestershire, Stokes returned economical figures of 2/54 and looked sharp with the ball throughout his spell.

The 34-year-old had undergone surgery after being struck on the face by a cricket ball while coaching Durham academy players earlier this year. Speaking during an in-house interview with the England and Wales Cricket Board last month, Stokes admitted he felt fortunate to have survived the incident.

England will be encouraged by the fact that Stokes opened the bowling for Durham and generated both pace and his trademark seam movement during the match. His successful return comes at a crucial time for England ahead of a packed summer of Test cricket.

Stokes could even emerge as an option to open the bowling in the first Test against New Zealand at Lord's Cricket Ground on June 4.

The England skipper has opened the bowling twice before in Tests, though he has not done so since the 2022 series against Pakistan.

England will be aiming to recover from their crushing 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia and rebuild confidence among supporters after a disappointing tour that saw criticism directed at player discipline as well as the leadership of coach Brendon McCullum and managing director Rob Key.

Following the three-Test series against New Zealand, England are scheduled to play another three-match Test series against Pakistan, beginning at Headingley in Leeds on August 19.