Ben Stokes

Ben Stokes

Benjamin Andrew Stokes OBE is an English international cricketer and current vice-captain of the England cricket team in Test cricket. Born in Christchurch, New Zealand, Stokes moved to northern England with his parents at the age of 12. He is a left-handed batsman and right-arm fast-medium swing bowler. He holds the record for England’s fastest ever Test double-century, and the highest ever score for a Test batsman batting at number six.

About Ben Stokes in brief

Summary Ben StokesBenjamin Andrew Stokes OBE is an English international cricketer and current vice-captain of the England cricket team in Test cricket. Born in Christchurch, New Zealand, Stokes moved to northern England with his parents at the age of 12. He is a left-handed batsman and right-arm fast-medium swing bowler. Stokes is regarded as one of the best all-rounders in the world. He holds the record for England’s fastest ever Test double-century, and the highest ever score for a Test batsman batting at number six. He became the highest-paid overseas player in the history of the Indian Premier League in 2017, fetching a record contract of ₹145 million ; he won the Most Valuable Player award during the season. On 13 February 2017, he was appointed vice- captain of England’s test team under Joe Root, who was made captain the same day. He was part of the squad that won the 2019 Cricket World Cup. In July 2020, he captained the England team for the first time, against the West Indies. He won the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for Best Cricketer of the Year by the International Cricket Council in January 2020, and three months later was named the Wisden Leading Cricketers in the World for 2019. In January 2015, he joined the Melbourne Renegades of Australia’s Big Bash League for the remainder of the season as a replacement for Jesse Ryder, who had been ruled out through injury.

He made his first-class debut for Durham against the Marylebone Cricket Club during the traditional season opener, which for 2010 was taking place at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. He has also featured for Durham in the Clydesdale Bank 40-over competition, and was also named Man of the Match in the final of the 2014 Royal London One-Day Cup Final at Lord’s, having scored 38* and taken 2 wickets in a low-scoring game against Warwickshire. As a bowler, he consistently bowls at around the 140kph mark and he can also swing the ball. As of 2013, his parents have moved back to New Zealand and again reside inChristchurch, along with Ben’s brothers. He played in two youth tests against Bangladesh U19 during 2009, in which he made a half-century and took a few wickets. He then went on to play in the 2010 Under-19 World Cup, during which he scored a century against the India U19 team. He had a very successful debut season in first- class cricket he was given a place in the England Performance Programme and travelled to Australia during the 2010–11 Ashes. Stoke was a key member of the Durham side that won the 2013 County Championship, and was also named Man of the match in the final of the Royal London One-Day Cup Final at Trent Bridge on 13 May.