Ben
Stokes
United Kingdom
·
Cricket
Date of birth | June 4, 1991 |
|---|---|
Birthplace | Christchurch, New Zealand |
Age | 34 |
Nationality | United Kingdom |
Career start | 2013 |
Disciplines | Cricket |
Ben’s father Ged, a former rugby league professional, proved pivotal to his son’s development, instilling in him the routine and attitude of an elite sportsman from a young age.
As a schoolboy, Ben had considered following in his father’s footsteps and pursuing a career in rugby, but opted for cricket at the age of 15. Ben rose to prominence as a shining light for England during the team’s otherwise miserable 5-0 defeat to Australia in the Ashes of 2013/14.
In 2015, Ben smashed the second-fastest Test century by an Englishman against New Zealand at Lord’s, before finally tasting victory in the Ashes later in the year. His stunning bowling figures of 6-36 in the fourth Test speak for themselves.
Ben started with a bang in 2016, producing an incredible score of 258 against South Africa – the second-fastest double century in history. Ben’s chief ambition is simple: to win games for whichever team he is playing for; to be as good as he can be and have no regrets.
In 2019, he realised his dream to be part of an England side that won a major ICC event. Stokes's battling innings – including a nerveless performance in the super over – was absolutely pivotal in helping England defeat New Zealand by the narrowest of margins to win the Cricket World Cup for the first time in their history.
He made headlines again that summer with one of the great Test innings. His thrilling 135 not out snatched victory from the jaws of defeat for England in the third test of the 2019 Ashes series.
In April 2022, the ECB announced that the talismanic all-rounder would succeed Joe Root as England's men's Test captain. Later in the year, Ben retired from international ODI cricket after 105 matches, finishing with a record of 2,924 runs and 74 wickets.
In November of 2022, Ben played a starring role in the final of the T20 World Cup, claiming one wicket and scoring 52 not out as England defeated Pakistan to become the first team to hold the men's 20 and 50-over world titles.
There was more to celebrate at the start of 2023 when Ben was named the ICC Men's Test Cricketer of the Year, having helped England win nine out of 10 Tests as captain, following that by setting a new record for the total number of sixes hit in a Test career, surpassing the previous tally of 107, and reaching the fabulous milestone of is 100th test match against India in February, 2024.