In recent times, we have witnessed something unbelievable from Mr. Incredible of Cricket, Ben Stokes. From Wankhede to Headingley, Mr. Incredible Ben Stokes transformed himself into the greatest English All rounder of all time.
Its all started at Wankhede in ICC T20 WC 2016
It was a big final vs T20 specialist team West Indies. West Indies need 19 runs off the final over. Ben Stokes to bowl the final over. Odds are in favor of England and they are truly on the verge to life their second T20 WC trophy. But, the big man of West Indies, Carlos Brathwaite had other idea. First 4 balls - 4 big sixes and its all over for England Cricket Team. Carlos Brathwaite on the celebration mode and Ben Stokes was on the knees. No doubt, its painful and not easy to forget. The pain to loose the final and moreover to loose this way was even more painful.
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| England skipper Morgan giving consolation to teammate Ben Stokes after he was smashed for 4 sixes off 4 balls in the final of ICC T20 World Cup 2016. Image Source - Google | Image by - AFP |
Someone truly said, "Time heals everything". Lets see how the looser Ben Stokes transformed himself into the biggest asset to the England Cricket Team :
Performed well in patches but needed to score big
Stokes first assignment after the demoralizing final was against Sri Lanka in the test series. Scored only 12 runs and took 1 wicket. Adding to the miseries, he picked up an injury, resulting ruled out of rest of the series.
He came back for the test series against Pakistan but his bad fortunes seemed to be stuck with some more time. After scoring 34 runs, he took up another injury and ruled out for rest of the series. Stokes returned for the ODI series and scored 2 half centuries in the last to ODI to give some glimpse of hope of returning to form.
Finally, Stokes announced his arrival against Bangladesh by scoring 101 in the first match. He also scored made 85 runs and took 6 wickets in the first test and won the Man of the Match award.
Stokes needed to put his hands up before the Champions Trophy. He scored a test century against quality Indian bowlers and performed decent in that tour. Stokes was giving his absolute best but may be the right time was way too ahead. Leaving all memories behind, Stokes headed towards all important ICC Champions Trophy 2017.
He didn't disappointed. After performing decent in first two games, Ben Stokes scored a fine unbeaten 102* vs Australia. Although, an unexpected collapse in the semi final against unpredictable Pakistan, England's 2017 Champions Trophy journey ended in a bad way. He was also named in the "Team of the Tournament" of ICC Champions Trophy 2017.
Post Champions Trophy, Stokes scored 299 runs and took 7 wickets in a 4-Test series vs South Africa. He also scored 228 runs and took 9 wickets in the 3-match series vs West Indies. He was named in World Best Test XI and ODI XI in 2017 and in the ODI XI in 2018.
He came back for the test series against Pakistan but his bad fortunes seemed to be stuck with some more time. After scoring 34 runs, he took up another injury and ruled out for rest of the series. Stokes returned for the ODI series and scored 2 half centuries in the last to ODI to give some glimpse of hope of returning to form.
Finally, Stokes announced his arrival against Bangladesh by scoring 101 in the first match. He also scored made 85 runs and took 6 wickets in the first test and won the Man of the Match award.
Stokes needed to put his hands up before the Champions Trophy. He scored a test century against quality Indian bowlers and performed decent in that tour. Stokes was giving his absolute best but may be the right time was way too ahead. Leaving all memories behind, Stokes headed towards all important ICC Champions Trophy 2017.
He didn't disappointed. After performing decent in first two games, Ben Stokes scored a fine unbeaten 102* vs Australia. Although, an unexpected collapse in the semi final against unpredictable Pakistan, England's 2017 Champions Trophy journey ended in a bad way. He was also named in the "Team of the Tournament" of ICC Champions Trophy 2017.
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| England all rounder Ben Stokes after completing his century vs Australia in a group stage matche in ICC Champions Trophy 2017. He scored match winning 102* runs. Image Source - Google | Image by - Prince Singh |
Post Champions Trophy, Stokes scored 299 runs and took 7 wickets in a 4-Test series vs South Africa. He also scored 228 runs and took 9 wickets in the 3-match series vs West Indies. He was named in World Best Test XI and ODI XI in 2017 and in the ODI XI in 2018.
Career changing ICC World Cup 2019
ICC World Cup 2019 came as career changing event for the Mr. Incredible, Ben Stokes. In the very first match against South Africa, Ben Stokes announced his arrival at the World Cup. He made 89 runs off 79 balls. He also took 2 wickets, he run out one batsman and took 2 catches. He took a screamer and that probably in the list of the "One of the best catches of all time". He bag Man of the Match award. He didn't looked back from there. He scored many fine knocks in the group stages including 82* vs Sri Lanka, 89 vs Australia and 79 vs India.
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| Ben Stokes with the ICC World Cup 2019 trophy. He showed his extraordinary skills throughout the tournament with great display of batting, bowling and fielding. Image Source - Google | Image by - Getty Images |
Then came the Big Final vs New Zealand, when all England batters struggled against New Zealand bowlers, Stokes stood up to the occasion, scored 84* and forced the Final to Super Over. He scored 8 runs off 3 balls in the Super Over which also resulted in a Tie but England won the match by boundary count. Yes, Its Ben Stokes who awarded England the World Cup.
The Ashes 2019
And comes The Ashes 2019. England lost the first test and second test ended in draw. England need a win or to draw to keep The Ashes. England started the 3rd test on positive note, Australia just scored 179 runs in their first inning. All England needed to build some partnership and to gain healthy lead. But, Australia pacers had different ideas, England managed just 67 runs in their first inning. Australia scored 246 runs in their second inning and set a record 359 runs target to England.
England lost their openers on the score of 15. Trailing 15/2 and chasing huge 359 runs and pressure of saving The Ashes was on the line. Skipper Joe Root and Joe Denly played sensibly and managed to build 126 runs partnership for the 3rd wicket. Joe Denly scored 50 runs 155 balls before getting out off pacer Josh Hazlewood. Then comes the Ben Stokes. He left and block whatever Australia thrown at him. But when they lost Joe Root (77 runs off 205 balls), England were almost out of the game and The Ashes 2019. Jonny Bairstow managed to got some runs but too many shots costed his wicket. England collapsed from 245/4 to 286/9. Now, its all upto the big fellow, Ben Stokes. He smashed Australia bowlers all around the park. In the process, Stokes got to his century but England needed him to finish the game for his country.
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| Ben Stokes played one of the best test inning of all time. Image Source - Google | Image by - Reuters |
Stokes changed his gear and suddenly we saw some serious hitting from the English all-rounder. He finishes the game with a boundary and put The Ashes 2019 to 1-1 with 2 games to go. He played probably the best test inning of all time. He scored 135* including 11 fours and 8 sixes. Although, Australia regained the Urn with 2-2 draw but this Ashes will be remembered by that inning of Mr. Incredible, Ben Stokes.
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