Take a Bow Ben Stokes !!!
Ben Stokes is the modern Cricket Superstar with his impactful and skillful all-round game. The English all-rounder claimed the third spot in ICC Test Batsmen Rankings and the top spot in Top all-rounder rankings after the second Test against West Indies.
In the last 2-3 years, the bad boy of cricket created a legacy as an all-rounder and surprised the cricket experts. Forget Bishop’s iconic “remember the name” from 2016 T20 WC, and update the memory with Headingly and Lord’s because Ben Stokes has the different DNA this time. He has been now compared to English legend Ian Botham for his class performances in all formats of cricket.
Let’s take a look at Stokes’ five outstanding and match-defining knocks for England:
#1 The Epic Headingly Knock
A reverse sweep against Lyon and smashing a scoop shot off Pat Cummins – Ben Stokes played one of the greatest Test innings ever in Headingly. England was completely out of the contest and Aussies were heading towards to retain the Ashes in the second Test of the series. The one-man army snatched the victory from the jaws of the defeat. England was bowled out on just 67 in first innings and they were chasing huge 359 runs which were a tough task to chase against Australian attack.
Denly and Root nourished the English chase but couldn’t handle the pressure and gave Australia a clear opportunity to retain the Ashes. England was nine down but Stokes was in a different mind while playing the captain of a sinking boat. The Headingley crowd witnessed what Kolkata experienced in 2001 – the finest Test knocks in Test history. Stokes accelerated the English innings after reaching 300.
He finished the match with a boundary off Pat Cummins to register a remarkable victory. He hit 11 fours and eight sixes in his 135-runs knock.
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#2 The World Cup Winning Knock at Lord's
The stage was the World Cup final and England was aiming for the first World Cup title. Ben Stokes played one of the best innings in the history of World Cups. He put a conviction and hold the nerves in the last ball thriller against Kiwis.
Chasing a total of 242, England were four down on 83 and the hosts were in pressure. He put a tight partnership with Jos Buttler and evolved some hopes for English camp.
After Buttler’s breakthrough, New Zealand were on a driver’s seat but Stokes brought England in the game and managed to tie the match with scoring unbeaten 84. In the super over, he contributed eight runs out of 15 and helped England to win the first-ever historic Cricket World Cup.
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#3 Maiden Ashes ton in Perth
Most of you even don’t about this knock but it marks Stokes’ class in the longest format of cricket. It was his second Test appearance and the opponent was mighty Australia on WACA’s tight surface. England was chasing huge 504 after a poor show for England in first innings as 22-years old Stokes scored just 18 in the first innings. In reply, the English batting line-up was in trouble as they lost their top order to see them to 121/4.
Stokes came at No.6 under pressure and Mitchell Johnson was hitting bullets. Stokes stood like a wall and hit 18 fours and one six in his innings including some beautiful strokes against Lyon and Johnson. He got out for 120 and Australia clinched the game by 150 runs but it was the first time, England was talking about this 22-years old young player and his conviction at Perth.
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#4 The Fastest 250 in Test Cricket
England was on tour to South Africa and the ground was Cape Town. The English superstar smashed the fastest 250 in Test cricket by breaking the records of former Indian opener Virender Sehwag. Stokes took 70 deliveries to reach his half-century. The surface was batting-friendly and he made the full use of sending poor deliveries out of the ground.
He got his hundred off the next 35 deliveries. He took advantage on spinners and put a tough show to South African pacers. He completed the double century in 163 deliveries, 58 more after reaching the hundred. His next 50 came off just 24 balls and it was the fastest 250 in the longest format of cricket.
He also broke the record of hitting most sixes by an Englishman in a Test innings with 11 sixes. His innings ended on 258 after and England put a huge total. Match ended in a draw but it was England who claimed the series.
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#5 Slow and Steady in Manchester
Cricket was back after 117-days of drought due to the pandemic COVID-19 and West Indies surprised England side in the first International assignment after Holder-Gabriel show.
England needed a win in Manchester to save a series and it was Stokes who proved yet again that he is the best all-rounder in modern time. After batting first, England lost Bruns, Crawly, and Root on 81. Stokes put a match-defining partnership of 260 runs with Sibley to post 469. A century in over 250 balls in an innings from a player who had the fastest 250 in Tests, shows the temperament and class of Stokes.
He pushed Alzzari Joseph for a six on midwicket which was an excellent shot against the pace in his 176 runs-knock including 17 fours and two sixes. Stokes grabbed a crucial wicket of Brathwaite for England with the ball and send off the host on Driver’s seat in the game.
The rain on the fourth day left the English camp shocked as the win was slipping from them. Stokes opened for England and scored unbeaten 78 off 57 balls to give his side to enough overs to bowl out Windies on the final day. England clinched Manchester by 113 runs to keep Wisden Trophy alive.
We must say that Ben Stokes is one of the finest all-rounders England has ever produced.
