England captain Ben Stokes still recovering from a broken cheekbone

LONDON — England captain Ben Stokes will begin the county season on the sidelines as he continues to recover from a broken cheekbone sustained during a Durham training session last month.

The 34-year-old all-rounder was struck by a ball while working with academy players and underwent surgery shortly after the incident. The injury has kept him out of action since England’s final Ashes Test defeat in Australia in January.

Stokes will definitely miss Durham’s County Championship opener against Kent next week and is pencilled in for a possible return when Worcestershire visit in early May, according to Durham coach Ryan Campbell.

The setback comes as England prepare for a busy summer schedule, beginning with a home Test series against New Zealand on 4 June. Last week the England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed that Stokes, head coach Brendon McCullum and managing director Rob Key will remain in their roles despite the team’s 4-1 Ashes loss, which was sealed with two matches still to play.