Ben Stokes

NameBenjamin Andrew Stokes
Date of Birth04/06/1991
National SideEngland
Batting StyleLeft-handed
Bowling StyleRight-arm fast-medium
RoleAll-rounder
SpouseClare Ratcliffe

Ben Stokes is an English all-rounder who bats left-handed in the middle order and bowls right-arm fast-medium. Since April 2022 he has captained England’s Test team, reshaping their approach with aggressive, positive cricket. He was central to England’s greatest modern triumphs — Player of the Match in the 2019 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup final and the match-winning half-century in the 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final. By July 2025 he had crossed 7,000 Test runs and 200 Test wickets, a rare all-rounder double that underlines his impact.

Quick Stats (career totals, updated to July 27, 2025): Tests 115 (7032 runs, 230 wickets); ODIs 114 (3463 runs, 74 wickets); T20Is 43 (585 runs, 26 wickets).

Early Life

Benjamin Andrew Stokes was born on June 4, 1991, in Christchurch, New Zealand, to former rugby league player and coach Gerard (Ged) Stokes. He moved to England at age 12 when his father took a coaching job in Cumbria, and he grew up in Cockermouth. Stokes first made waves with Cockermouth Cricket Club and left school at 16 before progressing quickly through Durham’s pathway.

Personal Life

Stokes married Clare Ratcliffe in October 2017, and the couple have two children. In 2025, he spoke publicly about stepping away from alcohol as part of his rehabilitation and lifestyle reset during his recovery from injury.

Domestic Career

Stokes debuted for Durham in List A cricket in 2009 and made his first-class debut in 2010, scoring a maiden first-class hundred at Trent Bridge the same year. He became a key figure in Durham’s County Championship success and was Player of the Match in the 2014 One-Day Cup final at Lord’s. In May 2022, he smashed a 161 off 88 balls for Durham against Worcestershire, including 34 in an over and a County Championship record for sixes in an innings — a timely reminder of his hitting power during his return to county cricket as Test captain. He also featured for Northern Superchargers in The Hundred.

Test Career

Stokes made his Test debut in the 2013–14 Ashes, announcing himself with a gritty century at Perth. His ceiling became clear with a record-breaking 258 off 198 balls at Cape Town in 2016 — the highest score by a No. 6 in Tests and the fastest 250 in Test history. He and Jonny Bairstow added a world-record 399 for the sixth wicket in that match.

The defining epic came at Headingley in the 2019 Ashes, where Stokes’ unbeaten 135* pulled off an impossible chase and tied the series narrative to his name. In April 2022 the ECB appointed him England’s Test captain; under his and Brendon McCullum’s watch, England’s win rate surged with an attacking ethos. He also set a new record for most sixes in Test cricket by February 2023, overtaking McCullum. Stokes played his 100th Test against India on February 15, 2024.

In late 2023 he underwent knee surgery, then suffered a hamstring tear in December 2024 before returning in May 2025. The comeback summer produced a special double at Old Trafford against India in July 2025: a century and a five-wicket haul in the same Test — a rarity in the modern game — as England piled up a record Old Trafford total.

Test career summary:

  • 115 matches
  • 7032 runs at 35.69 (14×100, 35×50; HS 258)
  • 230 wickets at 31.64 (BBI 6/22; 5 five-fors)
  • 113 catches

ODI Career

Stokes debuted in ODIs in 2011, but his legend was sealed at Lord’s in the 2019 World Cup final. He top-scored with 84* in a match that finished tied and then helped England clinch the title via a Super Over, earning Player of the Match. He retired from ODIs in July 2022 due to workload but returned in 2023, immediately blasting 182 against New Zealand — England’s highest individual ODI score — before featuring at the 2023 World Cup. His most recent ODI came in November 2023.

ODI career summary:

  • 114 matches
  • 3463 runs at 41.22 (5×100, 24×50; HS 182)
  • 74 wickets at 42.39 (BBI 5/61)
  • 55 catches

T20I Career

Stokes’ T20I arc runs from heartbreak in 2016 to redemption in 2022. After conceding the decisive over in the 2016 final, he returned six years later to guide England home with 52* in the 2022 T20 World Cup final at the MCG. He opted out of the 2024 T20 World Cup to prioritise fitness and red-ball commitments.

T20I career summary:

  • 43 matches
  • 585 runs at 21.66 (HS 52*)
  • 26 wickets at 32.92 (BBI 3/26)
  • 22 catches

IPL Career

Stokes debuted in the IPL with Rising Pune Supergiant in 2017 and was named that season’s Most Valuable Player after scoring 316 runs and taking 12 wickets, including a 103* against Gujarat Lions. He moved to Rajasthan Royals (2018–21), striking a second IPL ton (107* in 2020), and joined Chennai Super Kings in 2023 (limited appearances due to injury). He opted out of IPL 2024 while managing his workload. Across 45 IPL games he has 935 runs and 28 wickets.

IPL Summary

  • Matches: 45
  • Runs: 935
  • Batting Avg/SR: 24.61 / 133.95
  • 100s/50s: 2/2
  • HS: 107*
  • Wickets: 28
  • Bowling Avg/Econ: 35.43 / 8.64
  • Best Bowling: 3/15
  • MVP season: 2017 (RPS)

Career Batting & Fielding (International)

Format Matches Runs Avg 100s/50s HS Catches
Tests 115 7032 35.69 14/35 258 113
ODIs 114 3463 41.22 5/24 182 55
T20Is 43 585 21.66 0/1 52* 22

Career Bowling (International)

Format Balls Wkts Avg BBI 5-wkt hauls
Tests 13,160 230 31.64 6/22 5
ODIs 3,110 74 42.39 5/61 1
T20Is 612 26 32.92 3/26 0

Records and Achievements

  • Player of the Match in the 2019 ODI World Cup final and 2022 T20 World Cup final — a unique double.
  • Crossed 7000 Test runs and 200 wickets by 2025.
  • Fastest 250 in Tests (off 196 balls) and highest score by a No.6 (258).
  • Most Test sixes, surpassing Brendon McCullum in 2023.
  • BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2019.
  • Wisden’s Leading Cricketer in the World in 2019, 2020, and 2022.
  • Became England Test captain in April 2022, redefining their approach.
  • Century and five-for in the same Test vs India at Old Trafford, 2025.

Ben Stokes is an English all-rounder who bats left-handed in the middle order and bowls right-arm fast-medium. Since April 2022 he has captained England’s Test team, reshaping their approach with aggressive, positive cricket. He was central to England’s greatest modern triumphs — Player of the Match in the 2019 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup final and the match-winning half-century in the 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final. By July 2025 he had crossed 7,000 Test runs and 200 Test wickets, a rare all-rounder double that underlines his impact.

Quick Stats (career totals, updated to July 27, 2025): Tests 115 (7032 runs, 230 wickets); ODIs 114 (3463 runs, 74 wickets); T20Is 43 (585 runs, 26 wickets).

Early Life

Benjamin Andrew Stokes was born on June 4, 1991, in Christchurch, New Zealand, to former rugby league player and coach Gerard (Ged) Stokes. He moved to England at age 12 when his father took a coaching job in Cumbria, and he grew up in Cockermouth. Stokes first made waves with Cockermouth Cricket Club and left school at 16 before progressing quickly through Durham’s pathway.

Personal Life

Stokes married Clare Ratcliffe in October 2017, and the couple have two children. In 2025, he spoke publicly about stepping away from alcohol as part of his rehabilitation and lifestyle reset during his recovery from injury.

Domestic Career

Stokes debuted for Durham in List A cricket in 2009 and made his first-class debut in 2010, scoring a maiden first-class hundred at Trent Bridge the same year. He became a key figure in Durham’s County Championship success and was Player of the Match in the 2014 One-Day Cup final at Lord’s. In May 2022, he smashed a 161 off 88 balls for Durham against Worcestershire, including 34 in an over and a County Championship record for sixes in an innings — a timely reminder of his hitting power during his return to county cricket as Test captain. He also featured for Northern Superchargers in The Hundred.

Test Career

Stokes made his Test debut in the 2013–14 Ashes, announcing himself with a gritty century at Perth. His ceiling became clear with a record-breaking 258 off 198 balls at Cape Town in 2016 — the highest score by a No. 6 in Tests and the fastest 250 in Test history. He and Jonny Bairstow added a world-record 399 for the sixth wicket in that match.

The defining epic came at Headingley in the 2019 Ashes, where Stokes’ unbeaten 135* pulled off an impossible chase and tied the series narrative to his name. In April 2022 the ECB appointed him England’s Test captain; under his and Brendon McCullum’s watch, England’s win rate surged with an attacking ethos. He also set a new record for most sixes in Test cricket by February 2023, overtaking McCullum. Stokes played his 100th Test against India on February 15, 2024.

In late 2023 he underwent knee surgery, then suffered a hamstring tear in December 2024 before returning in May 2025. The comeback summer produced a special double at Old Trafford against India in July 2025: a century and a five-wicket haul in the same Test — a rarity in the modern game — as England piled up a record Old Trafford total.

Test career summary:

  • 115 matches
  • 7032 runs at 35.69 (14×100, 35×50; HS 258)
  • 230 wickets at 31.64 (BBI 6/22; 5 five-fors)
  • 113 catches

ODI Career

Stokes debuted in ODIs in 2011, but his legend was sealed at Lord’s in the 2019 World Cup final. He top-scored with 84* in a match that finished tied and then helped England clinch the title via a Super Over, earning Player of the Match. He retired from ODIs in July 2022 due to workload but returned in 2023, immediately blasting 182 against New Zealand — England’s highest individual ODI score — before featuring at the 2023 World Cup. His most recent ODI came in November 2023.

ODI career summary:

  • 114 matches
  • 3463 runs at 41.22 (5×100, 24×50; HS 182)
  • 74 wickets at 42.39 (BBI 5/61)
  • 55 catches

T20I Career

Stokes’ T20I arc runs from heartbreak in 2016 to redemption in 2022. After conceding the decisive over in the 2016 final, he returned six years later to guide England home with 52* in the 2022 T20 World Cup final at the MCG. He opted out of the 2024 T20 World Cup to prioritise fitness and red-ball commitments.

T20I career summary:

  • 43 matches
  • 585 runs at 21.66 (HS 52*)
  • 26 wickets at 32.92 (BBI 3/26)
  • 22 catches

IPL Career

Stokes debuted in the IPL with Rising Pune Supergiant in 2017 and was named that season’s Most Valuable Player after scoring 316 runs and taking 12 wickets, including a 103* against Gujarat Lions. He moved to Rajasthan Royals (2018–21), striking a second IPL ton (107* in 2020), and joined Chennai Super Kings in 2023 (limited appearances due to injury). He opted out of IPL 2024 while managing his workload. Across 45 IPL games he has 935 runs and 28 wickets.

IPL Summary

  • Matches: 45
  • Runs: 935
  • Batting Avg/SR: 24.61 / 133.95
  • 100s/50s: 2/2
  • HS: 107*
  • Wickets: 28
  • Bowling Avg/Econ: 35.43 / 8.64
  • Best Bowling: 3/15
  • MVP season: 2017 (RPS)

Career Batting & Fielding (International)

Format Matches Runs Avg 100s/50s HS Catches
Tests 115 7032 35.69 14/35 258 113
ODIs 114 3463 41.22 5/24 182 55
T20Is 43 585 21.66 0/1 52* 22

Career Bowling (International)

Format Balls Wkts Avg BBI 5-wkt hauls
Tests 13,160 230 31.64 6/22 5
ODIs 3,110 74 42.39 5/61 1
T20Is 612 26 32.92 3/26 0

Records and Achievements

  • Player of the Match in the 2019 ODI World Cup final and 2022 T20 World Cup final — a unique double.
  • Crossed 7000 Test runs and 200 wickets by 2025.
  • Fastest 250 in Tests (off 196 balls) and highest score by a No.6 (258).
  • Most Test sixes, surpassing Brendon McCullum in 2023.
  • BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2019.
  • Wisden’s Leading Cricketer in the World in 2019, 2020, and 2022.
  • Became England Test captain in April 2022, redefining their approach.
  • Century and five-for in the same Test vs India at Old Trafford, 2025.