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England’s Ben Stokes ‘quite lucky’ to be alive after facial injury England Test captain Ben Stokes has said he feels “quite lucky” to be alive after being hit in the face by a cricket ball.All-rounder Stokes suffered a broken cheekbone after being hit by the ball during a net session while he was coaching academy players at his county side Durham in February.Stokes underwent surgery and is set to play in two first-class County Championship games next month, but he revealed the incident could have been so much worse.“I copped one straight in the face,” the 34-year-old told the England and Wales Cricket Board.“Pretty nasty but, funnily, probably the best result of a bad situation, to be honest. Just a couple of inches one way or the other, I might not be here doing this interview, if I didn’t turn my head round.ALSO READ | Stokes shuts down talk of rift with coach McCullum“All things considered, although I had pretty major facial surgery to sort it out, it was a bit of a mess under here (cheekbone), I’ve got out quite lucky. So pretty thankful for that.”He added: “Obviously it set everything back about a month, five weeks, with getting back to where I wanted to be to play at the start of the season for Durham, but just had to sort of quickly go back to the drawing board and put a plan together to get me ready to play a couple of games for Durham before the Test summer starts.“At the back end of all that now but it was a pretty scary situation. Thankfully still here and everything’s all right.”Stokes is expected to be fit to lead England in the first Test of its home season against New Zealand at Lord’s starting on June 4 as it looks to recover from its woeful 4-1 Ashes humiliation in Australia.Published on Apr 15, 2026 #Englands #Ben #Stokes #lucky #alive #facial #injury

England’s Ben Stokes ‘quite lucky’ to be alive after facial injury

England Test captain Ben Stokes has said he feels “quite lucky” to be alive after being hit in the face by a cricket ball.

All-rounder Stokes suffered a broken cheekbone after being hit by the ball during a net session while he was coaching academy players at his county side Durham in February.

Stokes underwent surgery and is set to play in two first-class County Championship games next month, but he revealed the incident could have been so much worse.

“I copped one straight in the face,” the 34-year-old told the England and Wales Cricket Board.

“Pretty nasty but, funnily, probably the best result of a bad situation, to be honest. Just a couple of inches one way or the other, I might not be here doing this interview, if I didn’t turn my head round.

ALSO READ | Stokes shuts down talk of rift with coach McCullum

“All things considered, although I had pretty major facial surgery to sort it out, it was a bit of a mess under here (cheekbone), I’ve got out quite lucky. So pretty thankful for that.”

He added: “Obviously it set everything back about a month, five weeks, with getting back to where I wanted to be to play at the start of the season for Durham, but just had to sort of quickly go back to the drawing board and put a plan together to get me ready to play a couple of games for Durham before the Test summer starts.

“At the back end of all that now but it was a pretty scary situation. Thankfully still here and everything’s all right.”

Stokes is expected to be fit to lead England in the first Test of its home season against New Zealand at Lord’s starting on June 4 as it looks to recover from its woeful 4-1 Ashes humiliation in Australia.

Published on Apr 15, 2026

#Englands #Ben #Stokes #lucky #alive #facial #injury

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England Test captain Ben Stokes has said he feels “quite lucky” to be alive after being hit in the face by a cricket ball.

All-rounder Stokes suffered a broken cheekbone after being hit by the ball during a net session while he was coaching academy players at his county side Durham in February.

Stokes underwent surgery and is set to play in two first-class County Championship games next month, but he revealed the incident could have been so much worse.

“I copped one straight in the face,” the 34-year-old told the England and Wales Cricket Board.

“Pretty nasty but, funnily, probably the best result of a bad situation, to be honest. Just a couple of inches one way or the other, I might not be here doing this interview, if I didn’t turn my head round.

ALSO READ | Stokes shuts down talk of rift with coach McCullum

“All things considered, although I had pretty major facial surgery to sort it out, it was a bit of a mess under here (cheekbone), I’ve got out quite lucky. So pretty thankful for that.”

He added: “Obviously it set everything back about a month, five weeks, with getting back to where I wanted to be to play at the start of the season for Durham, but just had to sort of quickly go back to the drawing board and put a plan together to get me ready to play a couple of games for Durham before the Test summer starts.

“At the back end of all that now but it was a pretty scary situation. Thankfully still here and everything’s all right.”

Stokes is expected to be fit to lead England in the first Test of its home season against New Zealand at Lord’s starting on June 4 as it looks to recover from its woeful 4-1 Ashes humiliation in Australia.

Published on Apr 15, 2026

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Deadspin | Avalanche down Flames, tie franchise’s season mark for points <div id=""><section id="0" class=" w-full"><div class="xl:container mx-0 !px-4 py-0 pb-4 !mx-0 !px-0"><img src="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28730266.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28730266.jpg" alt="NHL: Colorado Avalanche at Calgary Flames" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">Apr 14, 2026; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Colorado Avalanche left wing Artturi Lehkonen (62) and Calgary Flames defenseman Hunter Brzustewicz (48) battle for the puck during the second period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>Gabriel Landeskog scored a tiebreaking goal late in the third period, Martin Necas had an assist to reach 100 points for the first time in his career, and the visiting Colorado Avalanche beat the Calgary Flames 3-1 on Tuesday.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>Artturi Lehkonen and Nathan MacKinnon scored goals and Mackenzie Blackwood turned away 30 shots for Colorado (54-16-11). The Avalanche have 119 points, tying the franchise record set during the 2021-22 season, when they won the Stanley Cup.</p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>MacKinnon notched his NHL-leading 53rd goal of the season in his battle for the Rocket Richard Trophy. He has a two-goal lead over the Montreal Canadiens’ Cole Caufield. Both have one game remaining.</p> </section><section id="section-4"> <p>Cale Makar logged three assists for the Avalanche in his return to the lineup after missing seven games due to an upper-body injury. Devon Toews and Brock Nelson were healthy scratches, and Nazem Kadri (finger) and Josh Manson (upper-body injury) remain sidelined.</p> </section><section id="section-5"> <p>Colorado coach Jared Bednar missed his second consecutive game. Bednar didn’t travel on the two-game trip due to facial fractures and a corneal abrasion sustained when he was hit by a puck during the Avalanche’s Saturday game against the Vegas Golden Knights.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-6"> <p>Blake Coleman had a goal and Dustin Wolf made 36 saves for Calgary (33-39-9, 75 points).</p> </section> <section id="section-7"> <p>The Avalanche got the winner when Landeskog won an offensive-zone faceoff back to Makar, who sent it to Brett Kulak. Landeskog, stationed in front of the crease, deflected Kulak’s shot past Wolf at 15:07.</p> </section><section id="section-8"> <p>Wolf came off for an extra skater and MacKinnon scored into the empty net at 19:43. Necas got the second assist on the goal to reach his personal milestone.</p> </section><section id="section-9"> <p>After a scoreless first period, the Flames broke through early in the second. Mikael Backlund had the puck at the point and sent a shot to the front of the net. Coleman, batting in the slot, got his stick on the puck as it glided on the ice, and it deflected over Blackwood’s shoulder at 7:22.</p> </section><section id="section-10"> <p>It was Coleman’s 20th goal of the season.</p> </section><section id="section-11"> <p>The Avalanche tied it when Makar fed Lehkonen for a one-timer at 11:25 of the second.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-12"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section> </div> #Deadspin #Avalanche #Flames #tie #franchises #season #mark #points

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Deadspin | FIFA president Gianni Infantino: Iran ‘for sure’ playing in World Cup FIFA President Gianni Infantino holds the FIFA World Cup trophy at the World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos, Switzerland on Jan. 22, 2026. Despite Iran’s sports minister stating that the country cannot participate amid the war with the United States, along with President Donald Trump voicing concerns for the players’ “life and safety,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino is confident Iran will play in the FIFA World Cup this summer in North America. “We hope that by then, of course, the situation will be a peaceful situation, that would definitely help,” Infantino told CNBC on Tuesday. “But Iran has to come, of course. They represent their people. They have qualified. The players want to play.” Infantino said he was recently in Antalya, Turkey, to visit with the Iranian team at its training camp and said the team wants to participate in the World Cup. “They should play — sports should be outside of politics,” Infantino said. “Now, OK — we don’t live on the moon, we live on planet Earth, but if there is nobody else that believes in building bridges and in keeping them intact and together, well we are doing that.” Iran, one of the first teams to qualify for the World Cup — which is projected to generate more than billion in revenue — is scheduled to play all three of its group stages in the U.S. Iran is slated to open against New Zealand on June 15 then face Belgium on June 21, with both matches in Los Angeles. On June 26, Iran is scheduled to oppose Egypt in Seattle. Should Iran advance, the rest of its games would also be held in the U.S. Iran requested FIFA move its games to Mexico, which is hosting games along with the U.S. and Canada, but was denied. A national team has not withdrawn from a FIFA World Cup since 1950, the first tournament held after World War II. The cost of tickets and the safety of the millions of fans traveling from all over the world have also been significant concerns for organizers. Amid “an unprecedented demand for tickets,” Infantino said there were more than 500 million ticket requests. “Security is obviously key, it’s crucial, it’s important,” he said. “You can, of course, always hear and read there are bans or this and that, but the fact is, we received ticket requests from all 211 countries. Everybody’s coming and everybody wants to come.” So for Infantino, what would qualify as a successful World Cup? “A win would be that we have a successful World Cup from a security point of view, so no incidents,” he said. “And from a football point of view, great matches, great games, excitement for the people.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #FIFA #president #Gianni #Infantino #Iran #playing #World #CupFIFA President Gianni Infantino holds the FIFA World Cup trophy at the World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos, Switzerland on Jan. 22, 2026.

Despite Iran’s sports minister stating that the country cannot participate amid the war with the United States, along with President Donald Trump voicing concerns for the players’ “life and safety,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino is confident Iran will play in the FIFA World Cup this summer in North America.

“We hope that by then, of course, the situation will be a peaceful situation, that would definitely help,” Infantino told CNBC on Tuesday. “But Iran has to come, of course. They represent their people. They have qualified. The players want to play.”

Infantino said he was recently in Antalya, Turkey, to visit with the Iranian team at its training camp and said the team wants to participate in the World Cup.

“They should play — sports should be outside of politics,” Infantino said. “Now, OK — we don’t live on the moon, we live on planet Earth, but if there is nobody else that believes in building bridges and in keeping them intact and together, well we are doing that.”

Iran, one of the first teams to qualify for the World Cup — which is projected to generate more than $11 billion in revenue — is scheduled to play all three of its group stages in the U.S.

Iran is slated to open against New Zealand on June 15 then face Belgium on June 21, with both matches in Los Angeles. On June 26, Iran is scheduled to oppose Egypt in Seattle. Should Iran advance, the rest of its games would also be held in the U.S.


Iran requested FIFA move its games to Mexico, which is hosting games along with the U.S. and Canada, but was denied.

A national team has not withdrawn from a FIFA World Cup since 1950, the first tournament held after World War II.

The cost of tickets and the safety of the millions of fans traveling from all over the world have also been significant concerns for organizers.

Amid “an unprecedented demand for tickets,” Infantino said there were more than 500 million ticket requests.

“Security is obviously key, it’s crucial, it’s important,” he said. “You can, of course, always hear and read there are bans or this and that, but the fact is, we received ticket requests from all 211 countries. Everybody’s coming and everybody wants to come.”

So for Infantino, what would qualify as a successful World Cup?

“A win would be that we have a successful World Cup from a security point of view, so no incidents,” he said. “And from a football point of view, great matches, great games, excitement for the people.”


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #FIFA #president #Gianni #Infantino #Iran #playing #World #Cup">Deadspin | FIFA president Gianni Infantino: Iran ‘for sure’ playing in World Cup FIFA President Gianni Infantino holds the FIFA World Cup trophy at the World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos, Switzerland on Jan. 22, 2026. Despite Iran’s sports minister stating that the country cannot participate amid the war with the United States, along with President Donald Trump voicing concerns for the players’ “life and safety,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino is confident Iran will play in the FIFA World Cup this summer in North America. “We hope that by then, of course, the situation will be a peaceful situation, that would definitely help,” Infantino told CNBC on Tuesday. “But Iran has to come, of course. They represent their people. They have qualified. The players want to play.” Infantino said he was recently in Antalya, Turkey, to visit with the Iranian team at its training camp and said the team wants to participate in the World Cup. “They should play — sports should be outside of politics,” Infantino said. “Now, OK — we don’t live on the moon, we live on planet Earth, but if there is nobody else that believes in building bridges and in keeping them intact and together, well we are doing that.” Iran, one of the first teams to qualify for the World Cup — which is projected to generate more than billion in revenue — is scheduled to play all three of its group stages in the U.S. Iran is slated to open against New Zealand on June 15 then face Belgium on June 21, with both matches in Los Angeles. On June 26, Iran is scheduled to oppose Egypt in Seattle. Should Iran advance, the rest of its games would also be held in the U.S. Iran requested FIFA move its games to Mexico, which is hosting games along with the U.S. and Canada, but was denied. A national team has not withdrawn from a FIFA World Cup since 1950, the first tournament held after World War II. The cost of tickets and the safety of the millions of fans traveling from all over the world have also been significant concerns for organizers. Amid “an unprecedented demand for tickets,” Infantino said there were more than 500 million ticket requests. “Security is obviously key, it’s crucial, it’s important,” he said. “You can, of course, always hear and read there are bans or this and that, but the fact is, we received ticket requests from all 211 countries. Everybody’s coming and everybody wants to come.” So for Infantino, what would qualify as a successful World Cup? “A win would be that we have a successful World Cup from a security point of view, so no incidents,” he said. “And from a football point of view, great matches, great games, excitement for the people.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #FIFA #president #Gianni #Infantino #Iran #playing #World #Cup

American second seed Ben Shelton is through to the quarter-finals of the ATP event in Munich after beating Belgian Alexander Blockx 6-4, 7-6 (10/8) on Wednesday.

The 21-year-old Belgian wildcard, ranked 72nd in the world, pushed the world number six deep into a second-set tie-break but Shelton dug in to hold him at bay and secure victory in just over one hour and 45 minutes.

Shelton, who blasted four aces and saved three of three break points across the match, will face Brazilian rising star Joao Fonseca in the last eight.

The American is still chasing a first clay court title, having lost the final in Munich last year to Alexander Zverev.

Three-time champion Zverev, who is again the top seed on home soil, faces Canadian Gabriel Diallo in their last-16 clash.

Earlier on Wednesday, French world number 26 and seventh seed Arthur Rinderknech was eliminated by Fonseca 6-3, 6-2.

The 19-year-old Brazilian, who also beat Rinderknech in Monte Carlo earlier in April, prevailed in one hour and 21 minutes.

Published on Apr 15, 2026

#ATP #Ben #Shelton #sinks #Blockx #reach #Munich #quarters">ATP: Ben Shelton sinks Blockx to reach Munich quarters American second seed Ben Shelton is through to the quarter-finals of the ATP event in Munich after beating Belgian Alexander Blockx 6-4, 7-6 (10/8) on Wednesday.The 21-year-old Belgian wildcard, ranked 72nd in the world, pushed the world number six deep into a second-set tie-break but Shelton dug in to hold him at bay and secure victory in just over one hour and 45 minutes.Shelton, who blasted four aces and saved three of three break points across the match, will face Brazilian rising star Joao Fonseca in the last eight.The American is still chasing a first clay court title, having lost the final in Munich last year to Alexander Zverev.Three-time champion Zverev, who is again the top seed on home soil, faces Canadian Gabriel Diallo in their last-16 clash.Earlier on Wednesday, French world number 26 and seventh seed Arthur Rinderknech was eliminated by Fonseca 6-3, 6-2.The 19-year-old Brazilian, who also beat Rinderknech in Monte Carlo earlier in April, prevailed in one hour and 21 minutes.Published on Apr 15, 2026 #ATP #Ben #Shelton #sinks #Blockx #reach #Munich #quarters

Deadspin | Trevor Story homers, drives in five as Red Sox knock off Twins Apr 15, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story (right) celebrates his three run home run against the Minnesota Twins with center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela in the third inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images Trevor Story hit a three-run home run and drove in five runs to help the visiting Boston Red Sox avoid a three-game sweep by defeating the Minnesota Twins, 9-5, Wednesday afternoon. After he homered against Minnesota starting pitcher Simeon Woods Richardson in the third inning, Story added a two-run double in the sixth. Story’s home run was his second of the season. Andruw Monasterio collected three hits for the Red Sox. Monasterio was playing in place of Willson Contreras, who removed himself from Tuesday’s game with back stiffness. Roman Anthony and Isiah Kiner-Falefa each had two hits in the win. Boston starter Connelly Early (1-0) earned the win for holding the Twins to one run on two hits in six innings. He struck out five and walked two. Woods Richardson (0-3) allowed seven runs (six earned) on 10 hits in five innings. Austin Martin and Ryan Kreidler homered for Minnesota, which outscored Boston 19-6 in the first two games of the series. The Twins entered Wednesday’s game with a six -game home winning streak. After Martin’s solo home run opened the scoring in the bottom of the first, the Red Sox scored five runs in the third. Boston took the lead by scoring twice when second baseman Luke Keaschall committed two errors (one fielding, one throwing) on Masataka Yoshida’s grounder with the bases loaded. Story followed with his three-run home run that scored Ceddanne Rafaela and Yoshida to make it 5-1. Boston extended its lead to 7-1 by pushing two runs across the plate in the fifth. Jarren Duran reached on a fielder’s choice and scored on Monasterio’s double to make it 6-1, and Monasterio added the seventh run by scoring from third on Connor Wong’s sacrifice bunt. It was 9-1 after Story’s double in the sixth drove in Anthony and Rafaela. Minnesota scored four times in the ninth. A Brooks Lee single drove in Tristan Gray to make it 9-2 before Kreidler hit a three-run home run that finalized the scoring. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Trevor #Story #homers #drives #Red #Sox #knock #TwinsApr 15, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story (right) celebrates his three run home run against the Minnesota Twins with center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela in the third inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images

Trevor Story hit a three-run home run and drove in five runs to help the visiting Boston Red Sox avoid a three-game sweep by defeating the Minnesota Twins, 9-5, Wednesday afternoon.

After he homered against Minnesota starting pitcher Simeon Woods Richardson in the third inning, Story added a two-run double in the sixth. Story’s home run was his second of the season.

Andruw Monasterio collected three hits for the Red Sox. Monasterio was playing in place of Willson Contreras, who removed himself from Tuesday’s game with back stiffness. Roman Anthony and Isiah Kiner-Falefa each had two hits in the win.

Boston starter Connelly Early (1-0) earned the win for holding the Twins to one run on two hits in six innings. He struck out five and walked two.

Woods Richardson (0-3) allowed seven runs (six earned) on 10 hits in five innings.

Austin Martin and Ryan Kreidler homered for Minnesota, which outscored Boston 19-6 in the first two games of the series.


The Twins entered Wednesday’s game with a six -game home winning streak.

After Martin’s solo home run opened the scoring in the bottom of the first, the Red Sox scored five runs in the third. Boston took the lead by scoring twice when second baseman Luke Keaschall committed two errors (one fielding, one throwing) on Masataka Yoshida’s grounder with the bases loaded. Story followed with his three-run home run that scored Ceddanne Rafaela and Yoshida to make it 5-1.

Boston extended its lead to 7-1 by pushing two runs across the plate in the fifth. Jarren Duran reached on a fielder’s choice and scored on Monasterio’s double to make it 6-1, and Monasterio added the seventh run by scoring from third on Connor Wong’s sacrifice bunt.

It was 9-1 after Story’s double in the sixth drove in Anthony and Rafaela.

Minnesota scored four times in the ninth. A Brooks Lee single drove in Tristan Gray to make it 9-2 before Kreidler hit a three-run home run that finalized the scoring.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Trevor #Story #homers #drives #Red #Sox #knock #Twins">Deadspin | Trevor Story homers, drives in five as Red Sox knock off Twins Apr 15, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story (right) celebrates his three run home run against the Minnesota Twins with center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela in the third inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images Trevor Story hit a three-run home run and drove in five runs to help the visiting Boston Red Sox avoid a three-game sweep by defeating the Minnesota Twins, 9-5, Wednesday afternoon. After he homered against Minnesota starting pitcher Simeon Woods Richardson in the third inning, Story added a two-run double in the sixth. Story’s home run was his second of the season. Andruw Monasterio collected three hits for the Red Sox. Monasterio was playing in place of Willson Contreras, who removed himself from Tuesday’s game with back stiffness. Roman Anthony and Isiah Kiner-Falefa each had two hits in the win. Boston starter Connelly Early (1-0) earned the win for holding the Twins to one run on two hits in six innings. He struck out five and walked two. Woods Richardson (0-3) allowed seven runs (six earned) on 10 hits in five innings. Austin Martin and Ryan Kreidler homered for Minnesota, which outscored Boston 19-6 in the first two games of the series. The Twins entered Wednesday’s game with a six -game home winning streak. After Martin’s solo home run opened the scoring in the bottom of the first, the Red Sox scored five runs in the third. Boston took the lead by scoring twice when second baseman Luke Keaschall committed two errors (one fielding, one throwing) on Masataka Yoshida’s grounder with the bases loaded. Story followed with his three-run home run that scored Ceddanne Rafaela and Yoshida to make it 5-1. Boston extended its lead to 7-1 by pushing two runs across the plate in the fifth. Jarren Duran reached on a fielder’s choice and scored on Monasterio’s double to make it 6-1, and Monasterio added the seventh run by scoring from third on Connor Wong’s sacrifice bunt. It was 9-1 after Story’s double in the sixth drove in Anthony and Rafaela. Minnesota scored four times in the ninth. A Brooks Lee single drove in Tristan Gray to make it 9-2 before Kreidler hit a three-run home run that finalized the scoring. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Trevor #Story #homers #drives #Red #Sox #knock #Twins

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