England Test captain Ben Stokes has made a firm promise to himself and his fans: he will never bat without a helmet again. This decision comes after a frightening accident left him with a severe facial injury, serving as a painful wake-up call about the dangers of the sport.

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The incident occurred while Stokes was back home, coaching young players at Durham’s indoor cricket academy. During the session, he was struck directly in the face by a cricket ball. The impact was serious. It left him with a black eye, a swollen cheek, and a cut lip. The damage was significant enough that he had to undergo surgery to repair it.

Stokes shared photos of his bruised face on social media, showing just how "lucky" he felt to walk away without permanent damage. The scare changed his perspective entirely. He admitted that in the past, he would often practice or face spin bowlers without head protection. That risky habit is now a thing of the past.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Stokes shared his full thoughts with his followers:

"I never understood the no helmet when spin is bowling, tbf I used to have throw downs with no helmet. After my accident last week and getting seriously lucky with the outcome I'll never not wear a helmet, cricket balls do serious damage."

His message is a powerful reminder for cricketers at every level. If a world-class player like Stokes can get hurt in a simple coaching session, it proves that a cricket ball is dangerous in any situation. His advice is simple but vital: don’t take the risk, wear the helmet.