Happy Birthday, Ben Stokes: The Top Performances of England’s Talisman
Born on June 04, 1991, in Christchurch, New Zealand, Ben Stokes moved to England at the age of 12, after his father Gerard Stokes was appointed as a head coach of a rugby club there. However, even after his family moved back to New Zealand, Stokes stayed put to pursue his dream of playing cricket for England.
A few years later, he made his debut for England in a One Day International match against Ireland in 2011. A month later, he made his T20I debut against West Indies. Nearly 2 years later, the all-rounder played his first Test and Ashes match in the 2013-14 series. And he has delivered some phenomenal performances over the years carving a place among the game’s finest allrounders.
As the cricketer celebrates his 30th birthday today, we take a look back at his career and list some of his most memorable performances.
102 not out against Australia, Champions Trophy 2017
When Stokes walked out to bat in this crucial group stage encounter of 2017 Champions Trophy, the English team was in the middle of a batting collapse. Down at 35/3 in reply to Australia’s 277/9, England needed heroic innings from Stokes. The stage was set for him to prove his mettle and he grabbed the opportunity with both hands. Taking on the Aussie bowling, Stokes struck his first ODI century and took his team to victory with help from Eoin Morgan (87) and Joss Butler (29). Stokes hit 2 sixes and 13 fours in his unbeaten 102 runs innings.
84 not out against NewZealand, 2019 World Cup Final
It was the first time since 1992 that the English cricket team was playing an ODI World Cup Final- the closest they had been to their first World Cup. Chasing a target of 242, the English team was 86- 4 and in came Stokes, joining Joss Butler at the middle. The two started playing cautiously and added 110 runs together before Butler was dismissed at 59.
England still needed 46 runs off 32 balls. Despite wickets falling on the other end, Stokes held his nerve and changed gears. With 2 required off the last ball, the innings then ended in a tie.
The Super that followed was also tied after New Zealand equalled England’s score of 15 runs.
The English team was later declared the winner by the rule of boundary count. Ben stokes’ power hitting in the last overs of his 84 runs innings proved to be a crucial factor behind England’s first-ever World Cup victory.
4-26, 2-20 & 85 vs Bangladesh, 1st Test, Chattogram 2016
Stokes’ all-round performance in the first Test against Bangladesh in 2016, proved his credentials as all -condition all-rounder. Stokes claimed 4-26 on a turning wicket and scored 85 while batting in the second innings, helping England to set a target of 285.
In reply, Bangladesh batted well and was inching towards victory before Stokes was brought back in the attack. Claiming two wickets within a space of three balls, Stokes helped his team to register a 22 run victory over the hosts.
135 not out against Australia 3rd Ashes Test, Headingley 2019
What could be regarded as one of the most complete test innings of the recent decades, Ben Stokes 135 against Australia in the 3rd Ashes test of 2019, had every shade. From blocking the ball to a point where he was batting at just 3 runs off the 72 balls he faced, Stokes switched into T20 avatar hitting the Aussie all around the park. From switch-hit to reverse paddle, ferocious hooks, belligerent square-cuts, Ben Stokes played in every single gear that day to help England record their maiden 350+ run-chase in Test match cricket.
258 against South Africa 2016
In his fiery 258 run innings of 198 deliveries against South Africa in 2016, Stokes along with Jonny Bairstow steered his team out of a tricky situation in a match that eventually ended in a high scoring draw. Stokes’ 258, was the highest score by any number 6 batsman in tests, additionally, his 399 -run stand with Bairstow was the highest sixth-wicket stand in Test history.
Get all the IPL news and Cricket Score here
Ben Stokes - The man synonymous with the word ‘redemption’
Since the time Ben Stokes won the World Cup for England, he’s had a practically disjointed strut, as though he realizes he has the world at his feet. This disposition, which plays with the line isolating presumption and certainty, has raised Ben Stokes' down so much that he is as of now one of the best all-rounder’s in world cricket.
ALSO READ: Cricket- ‘Massive credit to Neil Wagner’: Devon Conway on his double ton
The example is completely clear, is it not? Ben Stokes flourishes with being the man at the center of attention, the imperfect virtuoso who discovers a hint of compassion among the majority, the adversary who basically must be appreciated. Yet, what he likewise flourishes with is the way that nobody else in the cricket field marks all the containers on the field as he does.
His Test debut for England was a rite of passage. Considering it came during the Ashes arrangement of 2013-14 in Australia. Part of an England squad that would give up the urn as well as lose three of its extraordinary players like Kevin Pietersen, Jonathan Trott, and Graeme Swann it was character working of the most hostile kind for Ben Stokes.
His extraordinary contributions of speed alongside his conspicuous batting abilities had permitted him to be reserved for the future, even as an underlying episode of impassive structure brought up issues about his spot in the team.
Subsequent to staying away from a rehash of 2015 and guaranteeing his position in the 2019 World Cup crew, Ben Stokes immovably set out to settle all recollections of Bristol as he played the lead part in the year’s two greatest blockbusters, the 2019 World Cup Final and the Ashes.
Carlos Brathwaite crushed Stokes for four sequential sixes with 19 to get off the last over. Ian Bishop’s undying words," Carlos Brathwaite! Remember the name!" rang through the Eden Gardens. A genuinely depleted Ben Stokes, down on his hindquarters in the center, couldn’t cover up anyplace as he willed for the earth to open up and take him in. Subsequently, at that point, many accepted that Ben Stokes had for sure shriveled away from the entirety of his huge ability and had surrendered to the hardships of being an expert sportsperson. With him gazing at the barrel of dissatisfaction, one felt a tremendous demonstration of wearing recovery would be the simply tonic to his infirmity.
The first splendid Ben Stokes execution to make this rundown came in the 2019 World Cup last. Held in London, England, the match was perhaps the most engaging and nail-gnawing matches in ODI history.
Ben Stokes kept his cool: each stroke made earnestly and a sharp consciousness of the circumstance. Regardless of wickets falling around him. He chose to take the game profound and kept his wickets unblemished going into the last two over’s or somewhere in the vicinity; at that point dispatched the last invasion. Stirs up showed his capacity to change gears instantly.
Without Ben Stokes, England would have lost the World Cup finale. To add substance to this assertion, in the last five overs Ben Stokes had scored his runs at a strike-pace of 283 runs for 100 balls.
At the point when England No. 11 Jack Leach joined his confidant Ben Stokes in Headingley, with England actually requiring 73 runs for triumph, it resembled an act of futility. The situation was anything but favorable for the batsmen. With Ben Stokes at the crease, nothing is incomprehensible. The star batsman continued to play an electrifying inning that will be discussed for ages.
Ben Stokes, then again, might be to such an extent that one may secretly not expect for oneself, yet on the other hand, there aren’t numerous who might actually reverse sweep the best spinner on the planet, with 56 runs needed to win and 1 wicket left in hand, for six. Particularly with the Ashes on the line.
Scoring at a fast pace, Ben Stokes raised his century with the England score of 326-9 after 121.1 overs requiring 33 to win. In any case, there was no ounce of celebration from Ben Stokes, who esteemed the group win to be a higher priority than individual achievements.
Reclamation was achieved as he crushed Pat Cummins through mid-wicket at Headingley, the site of the most prominent Test innings ever, as Ben Stokes' unbeaten 135, in a 76-run tenth wicket with Jack Leach kept England alive in the series. At the point when Ben Stokes acknowledged what he had done, he let out an immense roar of a win as all the adrenaline of the previous few hours burst out.
On endless events, Ben Stokes, his way of life, his capacity to deal with pressing factor and his character as an individual was addressed. Notwithstanding, he acknowledged all the analysis, took it in his step, and guaranteed the world was praising him excitedly when he turned it around, earnestly.
The Englishman was forced into a tight spot, he had apparently no place to go. He likewise needed to battle the evil presences in his mind, cricketing villains and off-field ones as well. However, he discovered a way, similar to everything champions do. He covered various apparitions, his own just as his nations, through sheer tenacity.
Towards the finish, all things considered, one part among the happy English squad stood on the winning side. What’s more, that man was Ben Stokes - Remember the name!
Ben Stokes Birthday: Fans Pour In With Heartwarming Wishes For England All-rounder
England cricketer Ben Stokes celebrated his 30th birthday on Friday, June 4. The southpaw, who is among the leading all-rounders in the world, has been an instrumental part of the England team across formats and has played a massive role in their success in recent years. Stokes has emerged as England’s biggest match-winner in crunch situations and testaments to his incredible temperament are his knocks in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 Final, as well as, his famous 135* during the third Ashes Test at Headingley in 2019.
Fans come up with heartwarming wishes for Ben Stokes on his 30th birthday
Ben Stokes birthday got the Twitterati buzzing. On account of Ben Stokes birthday, several reactions poured in on Twitter as fans hailed the Englishman by calling him one of the best all-rounders of all time. A certain section of fans reminisced Stokes' famous knocks and also lauded his remarkable cricketing journey. Here’s a look at a few reactions.
HBD to greatest all-rounder in current cricketers #BenStokes … The headingley innings will never be forgotten.. pic.twitter.com/WI4D2cg87W — Hashirama_Senju (@barath52190875) June 4, 2021
If Life Gives You a Second Chance, USE IT LiKE BEN STOKES! ❤️#HappyBirthdayBenStokes #BenStokes pic.twitter.com/I4L4IJHBIU — KRN (@KRN_MEDHI) June 4, 2021
Wishing u a many more happy returns of the day benjamin andrew stokes.@benstokes38 #BenStokes pic.twitter.com/sBp1qC5m26 — Rishi alle (@Rishi61756485) June 4, 2021
Happy birthday @benstokes38 ❤️🎂
The Class Real fighter 🔥🌠#BenStokes
It took me just 3 years to become a blockbuster fan boy from Hater. Hard work machine.
Since dropping a T-20 World Cup and lifting a 50-over World Cup💥🔥❤️#HBDBenStokes pic.twitter.com/9o8gTfCAZR — AJITH SHAJI (@AjithShaji_Offl) June 3, 2021
Wish U a Very Happy Birthday @benstokes38 ❤️
One of the best all-rounder of this gen without any doubt 🔥#HappyBirthdayBenStokes#BenStokes pic.twitter.com/knQTl1ITJL — 𝑺𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒚 𝑽𝒊𝒓𝒂𝒕 ☯︎シ︎👑🇮🇳💔 (@SandilyaDHFM) June 4, 2021
Man with Genius personality
Role model of millions of ppl 💞
This man has made every impossible thing possible by his patience & incredible talent 🤘#HappyBirthdayBenStokes ❤#BenStokes pic.twitter.com/vAqxdunN6K — Mehboob Khán (@The_Genius17) June 4, 2021
Ben Stokes stats
The Ben Stokes record in international cricket makes for a staggering read. The all-rounder has represented in 71 Tests where he has scored 4631 runs at an average of 37.00 to go with 10 centuries and 24 fifties. He has also bagged 163 wickets at an average of 31.4 which includes four-five wicket-hauls.
The Ben Stokes stats in ODIs and T20Is include the 2817 and 442 runs he has scored in 98 ODIs and 34 T20Is respectively. His average in one-day format is 40.8 as compared to 20.1 in the shortest format of the game. While he has notched three tons and 21 fifties in ODIs, he is yet to score a fifty or a hundred in T20Is. Stokes also has 74 ODI and 19 T20I scalps to his name.
The Ben Stokes record in the Indian Premier League (IPL) is also enviable. In 43 games, Stokes has amassed 920 runs at an average of 25.6 and a strike rate of 134.5. He has hit two centuries and as many fifties in the cricketing carnival. The Rajasthan Royals all-rounder has also claimed the wickets of 28 batters in the league and an average of 34.8 and an economy rate of 8.55.
Ben Stokes net worth details
The Ben Stokes net worth figure has risen tremendously and he is one of the biggest cricketing stars in the world. According to CA Knowledge, the all-rounder’s net worth is estimated to be around ₹ 80 crore. Besides his England contract, Ben Stokes was bought for a whopping ₹14.50 crore in the IPL 2016 by Rising Pune Supergiant. In 2018, Ben Stokes was bought by the Rajasthan Royals for a massive ₹12.50 crore.
Ben Stokes wife
Ben Stokes' wife’s name is Clare Ratcliffe and she is his childhood sweetheart. Ben Stokes wife is a primary school teacher and a mother of two kids, son Layton and daughter Libby. The two got engaged in 2013 and subsequently tied the knot on October 14, 2017, at the Church of St Mary the Virgin in East Brent, near Weston-super-Mare, Somerset.
SOURCE: ICC-CRICKET.COM