Benjamin Andrew Stokes OBE (born 4 June 1991) is an English international cricketer and current vice-captain of the England cricket team in Test cricket. Stokes was part of the England squad that won the 2019 Cricket World Cup.[2] In July 2020, Stokes captained the England team for the first time, for the first Test match against the West Indies.[3] Born in Christchurch, New Zealand, Stokes moved to northern England with his parents at the age of 12,[4] where he learnt the game and began playing club cricket for local teams. As a left-handed batsman and right-arm fast-medium swing bowler, Stokes is regarded as one of the best all-rounders in the world.[5]
Ben Stokes
OBEStokes in 2014Personal informationFull nameBenjamin Andrew StokesBorn4 June 1991 (age 29)
Christchurch, New ZealandHeight6 ft 0 in (183 cm)[1]BattingLeft-handedBowlingRight-arm fast-mediumRoleAll-rounderInternational informationNational side
England (2011–present)
Test debut (cap 658)5 December 2013 v AustraliaLast Test5 August 2020 v PakistanODI debut (cap 221)25 August 2011 v IrelandLast ODI14 July 2019 v New ZealandODI shirt no.55T20I debut (cap 58)23 September 2011 v West IndiesLast T20I16 February 2020 v South AfricaT20I shirt no.55 (was 59)Domestic team informationYearsTeam2009–presentDurham (squad no. 38)2014/15Melbourne Renegades (squad no. 38)2017Rising Pune Supergiant (squad no. 55)2017/18Canterbury2018–2019Rajasthan Royals (squad no. 55)Career statisticsCompetitionTestODIFCLAMatches6795143166Runs scored4,4282,6828,2124,583Batting average37.8440.6335.7437.87100s/50s10/223/2018/417/27Top score258102*258164Balls bowled90192,91216,9064,587Wickets15870330134Bowling average31.4041.7129.4232.885 wickets in innings417110 wickets in match0010Best bowling6/225/617/675/61Catches/stumpings74/–45/–115/–76/–Source: ESPNcricinfo, 5 August 2020
As a bowler, Stokes consistently bowls at around the 140kph (87mph) mark and he can also swing the ball. An attacking middle-order batsman, he holds the record for England's fastest ever Test double-century,[6] the fastest ever Test match 250, and the highest ever score for a Test batsman batting at number six. He also holds the record for the most runs scored by an individual batsman in the morning session of a Test match. Stokes became the highest-paid overseas player in the history of the Indian Premier League in 2017, fetching a record contract of ₹145 million ($2.1 million or £1.7 million); he won the Most Valuable Player award during the season. In January 2020, Stokes was awarded the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for Best Cricketer of the Year by the International Cricket Council (ICC)[7] and three months later was named the Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World for 2019.[8][9]
Since July 2020, Stokes has been the top-ranked Test all-rounder in the world.[10]
GREAT