Ben Stokes

Ben Stokes has been the face of a defining era for England - fearless, flawed, but always unforgettable. A talismanic allrounder, his legacy was cemented by a pair of extraordinary 2019 performances: a defiant, unbeaten 84 in the ODI World Cup final that led to a Super Over England would controversially win, and a barely believable 135 not out at Headingley in the Ashes to steal a victory from almost certain defeat. Both were innings of characteristic intensity and sheer willpower - hallmarks of Stokes at his peak.

Stokes' ascendancy was anything but smooth - the first half of his career brought more infamy than fame - his early days best remembered perhaps for the 2016 T20 World Cup final, where Carlos Brathwaite hit him for four consecutive sixes in a last-over heist; and the 2017 Bristol nightclub brawl, which led to an arrest, trial, and temporary removal as England's vice-captain. Cleared of affray but battered reputationally, he missed the 2017-18 Ashes and was forced to rebuild both form and trust. And that he did, with vigour. A key figure in England's 3-0 Test series win in Sri Lanka in late 2018, Stokes emerged as a player who excelled in all three facets of the game - with bat, ball and in the field. By 2019 he'd forged his own identity: not just a gifted cricketer, but England's clutch player when it mattered most.

Born in Christchurch, New Zealand, and raised in Cumbria, Stokes was steeped in sport - his father, Ged, played Rugby League for New Zealand. In 2009, Stokes debuted for Durham at 17 and made waves early, knocking the experienced Mark Ramprakash over with his third delivery in senior cricket, then notching a hundred against India in the 2010 U-19 World Cup. Though initial England stints were mixed - he was sent home for disciplinary issues during a Lions tour in 2013 and he faced injury setbacks - he soon became indispensable.

Stokes' 2013-14 Ashes century in Perth was a rare highlight on a tour to forget, showcasing his pugnacity. His 258 in Cape Town in 2016 was historic - the second-fastest of all time - and underlined his brutal hitting power. That year also brought his maiden ODI hundred. But even as 2017 was marred by off-field controversy, 2018 became a year of quiet redemption, building up to a seminal 2019. Stokes hit a roadblock in 2021, when injuries and workload management limited his white-ball involvement, and he missed the T20 World Cup while taking a mental-health break and recovering from a finger injury.

In 2022, after a string of dismal Test series defeats - including a 4-0 Ashes drubbing in Australia and a series loss in the Caribbean - Joe Root stepped down as captain. Stokes, his long-time deputy, was appointed as his successor. Alongside new coach Brendon McCullum, he ushered in a new era of hyper-aggressive red-ball cricket, dubbed "Bazball" by the press. The approach produced emphatic wins over New Zealand, South Africa, and a historic 3-0 sweep in Pakistan, putting Test cricket in the spotlight again. But it also led to moments of inconsistency, including a drawn 2023 Ashes (where rain in Manchester denied England a likely win) and a 4-1 defeat in India and 2-1 loss in Pakistan either side of their home summer that exposed the risks of an all-out attacking style.

Persistent knee issues forced Stokes to retire from ODIs in 2022, only to reverse the decision ahead of the 2023 World Cup. Though England underperformed, Stokes delivered again - most notably with a maiden World Cup century, against Netherlands.