Happy Birthday Fighter
Benjamin Andrew Stokes, was born on Christchurch, New Zealand on 4th June in 1991. At the age of 12, his family moved to England. He started his domestic cricket career, playing for Durham cricket team, and at the age of 20, during 2011, he made his International ODI and T20I debuts against ireland and West Indies respectively. He started his career as a right arm medium fast bowler, with playing at No.9 position. Also, he was in and out of the team, without gaining a permanent place in the team. But, he didn't stop over there.
He started to improvise on his batting skills. In 2013-14 Ashes series, he became the third leading run scorer and second leading wicket taker of the series. From there, his batting position started to rise, but however still his place remained uncertain. In 2014, due to injury during the series against West Indies, forced him to ruled out of 2014 T20 World Cup.
Also, due to poor performances against Sri Lanka, later that year he was axed along with Alastair Cook from the England squad of 2015 Cricket World Cup. But, still he fought hard and improved his performances better than before. He had better performances in 2015 Ashes series, and also the series against New Zealand. But there is another shock to be sustained.....
In 2016 T20 World Cup, England managed to reach finals. They faced West Indies and both were due to win their 2nd T20I World Cup. On that match, for West Indies team 19 runs were needed in the final over. Stokes was handed the ball. Carlos Brathwaite was at the striker end. He was given full confidence. But, Carlos Brathwaite smashed four sixes off first four consecutive balls which helped West Indies to clinch the title. Stokes was disappointed and clearly vexed. But, reality is that only failures will turn into a successful person.
But, during the same 2016, he was named in the ODI XI of the year for his better performances against Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh and India, in the overseas tour.
In 2017 Champions Trophy, he scored 299 runs in 6 innings with two hundreds and also picking up his career best figures of 6-22. He was eventually named in the "Team of the tournament" as an all rounder. He rose up to ranks. In the same year, he was named as the vice captain of England team in Test Cricket.
Then, the hero arrives. 2019 Cricket World Cup. In that tournament, he scored 5 fifties including the one he scored against New Zealand in the final match of the tournament, helping them to clinch the title. In the final match, he was also named as the Man of the Match, for his fighting knock of 84*, which eventually ended in a tie and at the super over, he smashed boundaries posting 15 off 6 deliveries. New Zealand team also scored the same, but due to boundary count, England were ahead against New Zealand, which resulted in clinching the title. He was named in the "Team of the Tournament"
The, in the same year Ashes series, he names as England's player of series, with scoring 441 runs with 2 hundreds and 2 fifties, and also picking up 8 wickets. Notably, in the third test, played at Headingley, he scored 135* in the second innings chase of 359 with the last partnership being around 70 runs Also, this innings included 11 fours and 8 sixes. This knock helped to win the match and also were described as "greatest off all time". In 2019, he was named as ICC Player of the Year. Also, he was awarded " 2019 BBC Sports Personality of the Year".
Then, for his performances in 2019, he was awarded Wisden Leading Cricketer of the Year, making him the second Englishmen after Andrew Flintoff to take the title. So, his career shows that life is just a journey, with both ups and downs. If we go through to downs, failures we will surely know how and what to do to be successful in both cricket and generally in life.
He started to improvise on his batting skills. In 2013-14 Ashes series, he became the third leading run scorer and second leading wicket taker of the series. From there, his batting position started to rise, but however still his place remained uncertain. In 2014, due to injury during the series against West Indies, forced him to ruled out of 2014 T20 World Cup.
Also, due to poor performances against Sri Lanka, later that year he was axed along with Alastair Cook from the England squad of 2015 Cricket World Cup. But, still he fought hard and improved his performances better than before. He had better performances in 2015 Ashes series, and also the series against New Zealand. But there is another shock to be sustained.....
In 2016 T20 World Cup, England managed to reach finals. They faced West Indies and both were due to win their 2nd T20I World Cup. On that match, for West Indies team 19 runs were needed in the final over. Stokes was handed the ball. Carlos Brathwaite was at the striker end. He was given full confidence. But, Carlos Brathwaite smashed four sixes off first four consecutive balls which helped West Indies to clinch the title. Stokes was disappointed and clearly vexed. But, reality is that only failures will turn into a successful person.
But, during the same 2016, he was named in the ODI XI of the year for his better performances against Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh and India, in the overseas tour.
In 2017 Champions Trophy, he scored 299 runs in 6 innings with two hundreds and also picking up his career best figures of 6-22. He was eventually named in the "Team of the tournament" as an all rounder. He rose up to ranks. In the same year, he was named as the vice captain of England team in Test Cricket.
Then, the hero arrives. 2019 Cricket World Cup. In that tournament, he scored 5 fifties including the one he scored against New Zealand in the final match of the tournament, helping them to clinch the title. In the final match, he was also named as the Man of the Match, for his fighting knock of 84*, which eventually ended in a tie and at the super over, he smashed boundaries posting 15 off 6 deliveries. New Zealand team also scored the same, but due to boundary count, England were ahead against New Zealand, which resulted in clinching the title. He was named in the "Team of the Tournament"The, in the same year Ashes series, he names as England's player of series, with scoring 441 runs with 2 hundreds and 2 fifties, and also picking up 8 wickets. Notably, in the third test, played at Headingley, he scored 135* in the second innings chase of 359 with the last partnership being around 70 runs Also, this innings included 11 fours and 8 sixes. This knock helped to win the match and also were described as "greatest off all time". In 2019, he was named as ICC Player of the Year. Also, he was awarded " 2019 BBC Sports Personality of the Year".
Then, for his performances in 2019, he was awarded Wisden Leading Cricketer of the Year, making him the second Englishmen after Andrew Flintoff to take the title. So, his career shows that life is just a journey, with both ups and downs. If we go through to downs, failures we will surely know how and what to do to be successful in both cricket and generally in life.
Comments
Post a Comment