Benjamin Andrew "Ben" Stokes (born 4 June 1991) is an international cricketer who plays for England and is the current vice captain of English Test team. Born and raised in Christchurch, New Zealand, he moved to northern England at the age of 12. He is an all-rounder who bowls right-arm fast-medium pace and bats left-handed. He also bowls occasional right arm off spin.
An attacking middle-order batsman, he holds the record for England's fastest ever test double-century, the fastest ever test match 250, and the highest ever score for a test batsman batting at six. He also holds the record for the most runs scored by an individual batsman in the morning session of a Test match. Stokes became the highest paid overseas player in the history of IPL with a whopping amount of Rs14.5 crore for his debut IPL season (2017), he will be playing for Rising Pune Supergiants in 2017 season.
Stokes is the son of rugby league player and coach Gerard Stokes. He moved to England at the age of 12 after his father was appointed head coach of Workington Town rugby league club and grew up in the small, West Cumbrian town of Cockermouth, playing his cricket for Cockermouth Cricket Club; winning the North Lancashire & Cumbria Cricket League, Premier Division Title with the club as a 15-year-old in 2006. As of 2013 his parents have moved back to New Zealand and again reside in Christchurch.
Ben is engaged to Clare Ratcliffe and together they have two children, Layton and Libby.
Stokes made his one-day debut for Durham in 2009 at The Oval and managed to take the wicket of hugely experienced batsman Mark Ramprakash with only his third delivery in professional cricket. He played in two youth tests against Bangladesh U19 during 2009, in which he made a half-century and took a few wickets. He then went on to play in the 2010 Under-19 World Cup, during which he scored a century against the India U19.
He made his first-class debut for Durham against the MCC during the traditional season opener, which for 2010 was taking place at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. During that match he bagged a half-century and took one wicket. At the start of the 2010 County Cricket Season he also made his Championship debut for Durham when he played in a fixture against Essex. He made his maiden first-class century against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge on 13 May. He has also featured for Durham in the Clydesdale Bank 40-over competition. Durham's continuing problems with many players becoming injured at the start of the 2010 season meant that Stokes continued playing in all forms of the game for Durham. Having had a very successful debut season in first-class cricket he was given a place in the England Performance Programme and travelled to Australia during the 2010–11 Ashes.
On 2 January 2015, Stokes joined the Melbourne Renegades of Australia's Big Bash League for the remainder of the season as a replacement for Jesse Ryder, who was ruled out through injury.
On 13 February 2017, Stokes was appointed vice-captain of England's test team, deputising under Joe Root, who was made captain the same day.
On 20 February 2017, Stokes was sold for Rs 14.5 crore to the Rising Pune Supergiants for IPL10.