Ben stokes, the fire starter. Ben Stokes, the game-changer. Ben Stokes, the star of the future. Yes. England have got someone from Durham who they can count on to win games of cricket. At the time of writing this, Ben Stokes is certainly proving to be one of the faces and gems of so called "New England". Yesterday, he took 26 for 4 in 10 overs in city of Chittagong. Where none of the pacers were able to hold their line and length, Stokes displayed extra-ordinary skills, causing the old ball to reverse it both ways and then later on the day, when England were in tatters at 62-5, made brilliant 85 to save the day. He certainly could be the best all-rounder England ever produced.
I first noticed him in WACA test 2013-14. If memory serves me right, It was perhaps only his second test. England were battling hard to save the match and the series. Cooky had got out on first ball duck. The defeat was almost inevitable. There were large cracks on the pitch. Lyon's deliveries pitching on middle stump were going to the leg slip. Stokesy produced a remarkable 120 there. It was a special knock from a special emerging player. Though England lost the series 5-0, they had got a superstar in the form of Ben.
Born in Canterbury, New Zealand, His father, Ged Stokes, was a rugby league player and coach. Ben could have been an All-Black easily, but he chose to come to England to pursue his cricket career. It certainly has not been an easy ride for him. In the beginning, he was termed as the problem child of England's cricket. He was the kid who was sent home from Lions tour, he was the kid who managed to miss the world T20 after smashing his hands on on locker, he was the kid who was dropped just before the 2015 Cricket world cup because of poor form with bat and ball. An England run of 43 runs in 12 innings in all formats, with six ducks, at an average of 3.60 in the beginning of his career raised so many eye-brows. He managed to get out in most spectacular of fashions and in Abu Dhabi, it was his wicket which led England to slow down in the pursuit of victory. But, past is past. He now seems to have matured drastically well. He has shown promises to be of someone in the leagues of Botham, Kallis, Freddie. He might become the best all rounder of his time. Stokes is a cricketer who, with bat, ball and in the field, is capable of altering games in circumstances where few can. Each of his test centuries have come at times, when England needed them deseperately.
He has grown into a solid test batsman who can bat in top 6 and a genuine third seamer. He plays like a test batsman. In the starting days, he used to have doubt about this defensive technique and often used to self-destruct. But, now he is becoming a solid and reliable player very rapidly. Capetown, 2016. England were in trouble with 167-4. He came and smashed the second fastest double ton in the history of the game and the fastest by an Englishman by an astronomical distance. He ripped apart the South African attack in their own backyard. Lords 2015. England vs New Zealand first test. England were in huge trouble with 30-4. Led by McCullum, New Zealand were all over England. He came and made a brilliant counter attacking 92 in the first innings before smashing the fastest hundred at the Mecca of cricket in the second innings.
Bowling wise, he is still evolving. But, he has already produced a lot of match-winning spells for England in test cricket. Trent Bridge 2015, Fourth Ashes test. He showed immense display of skills and took a 6-36 to hand England an unassailable 3-1 lead. He has often worked as a partnership breaker and has contained the batsmen in a lot of spells so as to give a breathing space for Jimmy and Broady. With his reverse swinging skills as a bowler, he has become a huge asset in the bowling. As a fielder, he is as good as it gets. Remember catching AB on the boundary to win an ODI game for England, that catch at Trent Bridge in 2015, which caused "Awe" of Stuart Broad in the mind-blowing spell.
His test averages are far from amazing. A test batting average of 33 and bowling average of over 35 might look like very ordinary, but these numbers will never tell you the full story and the impact he creates by being in the field in an England's shirt. Although he remains a work-in-progress, there is no denying from the fact that the work is a very impressive one.
Ben Stokes is an equally capable limited over cricketer. Apart from the disaster of 2016 T20 world cup finals, he has been very consistent in the death overs for England throughout. He is a genuinine wicket-taker and he was the Man of the Series in the recently concluded ODI series win of England over Bangladesh. He produced his maiden ODI hundred in the toughest of asian conditions and his six-hitting abilities are as good as any. He is a leader on-and-off the field and "his presence in the England dressing room causes a lot of energy" as described by England's assitant coach Paul Farbrace. He is proper team-man and he is well on the way of becoming the best all-rounder since Sir Ian Botham.
This is just the beginning of Ben Stokes miracles. He is the all-rounder England needed and like they say, "An all-rounder's work is never done." Way to go Stokesy.
I first noticed him in WACA test 2013-14. If memory serves me right, It was perhaps only his second test. England were battling hard to save the match and the series. Cooky had got out on first ball duck. The defeat was almost inevitable. There were large cracks on the pitch. Lyon's deliveries pitching on middle stump were going to the leg slip. Stokesy produced a remarkable 120 there. It was a special knock from a special emerging player. Though England lost the series 5-0, they had got a superstar in the form of Ben.
Born in Canterbury, New Zealand, His father, Ged Stokes, was a rugby league player and coach. Ben could have been an All-Black easily, but he chose to come to England to pursue his cricket career. It certainly has not been an easy ride for him. In the beginning, he was termed as the problem child of England's cricket. He was the kid who was sent home from Lions tour, he was the kid who managed to miss the world T20 after smashing his hands on on locker, he was the kid who was dropped just before the 2015 Cricket world cup because of poor form with bat and ball. An England run of 43 runs in 12 innings in all formats, with six ducks, at an average of 3.60 in the beginning of his career raised so many eye-brows. He managed to get out in most spectacular of fashions and in Abu Dhabi, it was his wicket which led England to slow down in the pursuit of victory. But, past is past. He now seems to have matured drastically well. He has shown promises to be of someone in the leagues of Botham, Kallis, Freddie. He might become the best all rounder of his time. Stokes is a cricketer who, with bat, ball and in the field, is capable of altering games in circumstances where few can. Each of his test centuries have come at times, when England needed them deseperately.
He has grown into a solid test batsman who can bat in top 6 and a genuine third seamer. He plays like a test batsman. In the starting days, he used to have doubt about this defensive technique and often used to self-destruct. But, now he is becoming a solid and reliable player very rapidly. Capetown, 2016. England were in trouble with 167-4. He came and smashed the second fastest double ton in the history of the game and the fastest by an Englishman by an astronomical distance. He ripped apart the South African attack in their own backyard. Lords 2015. England vs New Zealand first test. England were in huge trouble with 30-4. Led by McCullum, New Zealand were all over England. He came and made a brilliant counter attacking 92 in the first innings before smashing the fastest hundred at the Mecca of cricket in the second innings.
Bowling wise, he is still evolving. But, he has already produced a lot of match-winning spells for England in test cricket. Trent Bridge 2015, Fourth Ashes test. He showed immense display of skills and took a 6-36 to hand England an unassailable 3-1 lead. He has often worked as a partnership breaker and has contained the batsmen in a lot of spells so as to give a breathing space for Jimmy and Broady. With his reverse swinging skills as a bowler, he has become a huge asset in the bowling. As a fielder, he is as good as it gets. Remember catching AB on the boundary to win an ODI game for England, that catch at Trent Bridge in 2015, which caused "Awe" of Stuart Broad in the mind-blowing spell.
His test averages are far from amazing. A test batting average of 33 and bowling average of over 35 might look like very ordinary, but these numbers will never tell you the full story and the impact he creates by being in the field in an England's shirt. Although he remains a work-in-progress, there is no denying from the fact that the work is a very impressive one.
Ben Stokes is an equally capable limited over cricketer. Apart from the disaster of 2016 T20 world cup finals, he has been very consistent in the death overs for England throughout. He is a genuinine wicket-taker and he was the Man of the Series in the recently concluded ODI series win of England over Bangladesh. He produced his maiden ODI hundred in the toughest of asian conditions and his six-hitting abilities are as good as any. He is a leader on-and-off the field and "his presence in the England dressing room causes a lot of energy" as described by England's assitant coach Paul Farbrace. He is proper team-man and he is well on the way of becoming the best all-rounder since Sir Ian Botham.
This is just the beginning of Ben Stokes miracles. He is the all-rounder England needed and like they say, "An all-rounder's work is never done." Way to go Stokesy.
