Top 5 most memorable moments of Ben Stokes in international cricket

Ben Stokes announced his retirement from International Cricket on Sunday, June 28.

Benjamin Andrew Stokes, often regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders in England cricket history, has announced his retirement from international cricket. The England Test captain will be hanging up his boots after the ongoing third Test match against New Zealand at Trent Bridge.

Stokes has had a phenomenal career spanning over 15 years. Often termed a clutch player, Stokes has always been in the conversation as one of the best all-rounders of this generation. He has represented England in over 278 international matches, which include 121 Test matches.

A World Cup winner, Ashes hero, and one of the architects of England’s Test revolution, Stokes is leaving behind a big legacy. On that note, let’s have a look at the top five most memorable moments of Ben Stokes in international cricket.

Top 5 memorable moments of Ben Stokes

5. Ben Stokes’ 258 against South Africa

Ben Stokes has represented England in 121 Test matches, and slammed 14 centuries in his Test career and 19 centuries overall in international cricket. Of those, his highest-ever score remains the 258-run knock against South Africa at Cape Town in 2016.

England batted first and posted a massive total of 629/6 before declaring their innings. Stokes contributed 258 runs, smashing 11 sixes and 30 fours during his innings. The match ended in a draw, but it will always be remembered for Stokes’ brilliant batting display in Test cricket.

4. Leading England’s Test Cricket Revolution

Ben Stokes will always be remembered as one of England’s best all-rounders in history, but more than that, he will also be remembered as one of their best Test captains. Before Stokes was appointed as England’s captain, the side had won only one of their last seventeen Test matches under the previous captain, Joe Root.

Stokes, along with coach Brendon McCullum, tried to change the team’s approach going forward, and it could be seen in the way they played. England started playing aggressively with the bat, going against the classical way of playing Test cricket. It brought them immense success both at home and overseas.

Their style of play was termed “Bazball,” and it brought them success, but over time it also brought failures. As Test captain, Stokes changed the way Test cricket was played in the England setup, and he will always be remembered as one of England’s best Test captains.

3. 52* against Pakistan in the final of T20 World Cup 2022

Ben Stokes has often been regarded as one of the clutch players, who stepped up whenever his nation needed him the most. The last T20 World Cup final that England played before 2022 was in 2016, when Carlos Brathwaite scored four sixes in the last over bowled by Stokes to earn victory for the West Indies.

This time, however, Stokes was more determined than ever to win the title for his team. Pakistan posted a total of only 137 runs, but England faced a few hiccups during the chase. They lost four wickets for 84 runs, and the chase started to become difficult.

But then Ben Stokes stepped up and saw off the tough overs before accelerating later. He scored an unbeaten 52 off 49 balls to secure victory for England in the T20 World Cup final and earn them their second title.

2. 135* against Australia at Headingley in Ashes 2018-19

Big players are defined by their ability to win matches in tough moments. The match that truly defined Ben Stokes’ career was probably the Headingley Ashes Test of 2019. England were given a target of 359 runs to win the match and level the Test series.

Nine wickets of the English team had fallen at a score of 286, and Ben Stokes was still at the crease with 73 runs still needed and only one wicket remaining. What followed was one of the most incredible finishes to a Test match, an innings that no mortal could have imagined.

Stokes put together a partnership with Jack Leach, who contributed only a single run to the stand, and this brilliant knock from Stokes won the game for England. Ben Stokes finished unbeaten on 135, including eight sixes and 11 fours. This innings is often regarded as one of the greatest in the history of Test cricket.

1. 84* in the Final of Cricket World Cup 2019

There are no bigger moments in cricket than winning the World Cup for your nation. England won their maiden Cricket World Cup in 2019, and Ben Stokes played a major role in the team’s success as he produced one of his best knocks in the final.

New Zealand, batting first, posted a total of 241 runs. In reply, England lost their first four wickets for just 86 runs. After that, Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes formed a brilliant partnership, but with 46 runs still needed, Buttler lost his wicket, leaving everything on the shoulders of Ben Stokes.

Stokes accelerated his innings in the final overs and managed to tie the game. He scored an unbeaten 84, which forced the match into a Super Over. Stokes and Buttler batted again in the Super Over and managed to score 15 runs.

New Zealand also scored 15 runs in reply, but England were declared world champions because they had scored more boundaries during the match. Ben Stokes was awarded the Player of the Match for his brilliant performance in the final.

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