England Test captain Ben Stokes has described himself as "quite lucky" to be alive after undergoing surgery for a broken cheekbone sustained when a cricket ball struck him in the face. The incident occurred during a net coaching session with his domestic county side Durham (one of England's oldest first-class cricket clubs, based in northeast England) in February, and Stokes said that a slight difference in the angle of impact could have been fatal. Despite the setback delaying his return to play by roughly a month, Stokes is expected to be fit to lead England in their first home Test against New Zealand at Lord's, beginning 4 June.