Ben Stokes Career Story: Headingley, World Cups and Bazball

Ben Stokes announced his retirement from international cricket in June 2026, during the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge. He bowed out with six wickets in the match, and he is still playing for Durham.

Stokes leaves behind some of the most extraordinary moments in English cricket: the 2019 World Cup final, that innings at Headingley and the winning runs at the 2022 T20 World Cup. Here is his story. Browse more cricketing greats in our Cricket collection.

Ben Stokes Fact File

Full name	Benjamin Andrew Stokes
Date of birth	4 June 1991 (age 35)
Place of birth	Christchurch, New Zealand
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Role	All-rounder (left-handed bat, right-arm fast-medium)
Nationality	English
Current status	Retired from internationals (June 2026); Durham player
County	Durham (2009–present)
Nickname	Stokesy
Honours	OBE (2020)

Career History

Format	Debut	Runs	100s	Wickets
Tests	December 2013	7,273	14	252
ODIs	August 2011	3,463	5	74
T20Is	September 2011	585	0	26

International career figures. Test totals include his final match in June 2026. Club sides included Durham, Rising Pune Supergiant, Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings.

Christchurch to Cockermouth

Stokes was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, the son of rugby league player and coach Ged Stokes. The family moved to England when his father took a coaching job, and Ben grew up in Cockermouth, Cumbria.

He came through at Durham, making his debut in 2009, and was playing for England in one-day cricket by 2011. His Test debut followed during the 2013–14 Ashes, and he hit a hundred in Perth in only his second Test.

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258 at Cape Town

In January 2016 Stokes produced one of the most explosive Test innings ever seen, smashing 258 against South Africa at Newlands. He shared a world-record sixth-wicket stand of 399 with Jonny Bairstow.

He was now established as England's all-action all-rounder and a key figure in the side's push towards the 2019 World Cup.

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The Summer of 2019

In the World Cup final at Lord's, Stokes made 84 not out to drag England to a tie with New Zealand, then batted again in the Super Over. England won on boundary count and Stokes was named Player of the Match.

Weeks later at Headingley, England needed 359 to beat Australia in the Ashes. Stokes scored 135 not out, sharing a last-wicket stand of 76 with Jack Leach, to win one of the greatest Tests ever played. He was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

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T20 Glory and the Captaincy

Stokes hit 52 not out to win the 2022 T20 World Cup final against Pakistan in Melbourne. He had been named England's full-time Test captain in April 2022 and, alongside coach Brendon McCullum, led the bold, attacking style nicknamed Bazball.

He led England through the 2025–26 Ashes in Australia before calling time on his international career in 2026, finishing with more than 7,000 Test runs and 252 Test wickets.

Honours

Team

ICC Cricket World Cup: 2019
ICC T20 World Cup: 2022

Individual

BBC Sports Personality of the Year: 2019
ICC Cricketer of the Year: 2019
ICC Test Cricketer of the Year: 2022
Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World: 2019, 2020, 2022
IPL Most Valuable Player: 2017

National

OBE: 2020 New Year Honours

Away From the Game

Stokes married Clare Ratcliffe in 2017 and they have two children. In 2022 he donated his match fees from England's Test series in Pakistan to the country's flood appeal.