To describe a cricketer with an X factor could sometimes be tricky. They might not be the most talented around, or with the best statistics, but are often the ones who deliver, when the going gets tough, and have the ability to lift the entire team. Someone perhaps like England skipper Ben Stokes, who is all set to appear in his 100th Test, fits the bill.
So far, in 99 matches, the all-rounder has scored 6251 runs at an average of 36, and has 197 wickets to his name, with a total of four fifers. But what is more significant is that with him around in the team, England has emerged victorious in 45 matches. He has become somewhat of an Andrew Flintoff of the current generation.
He’s a handy batsman in the middle-order, can be ravaging on his day with the ball, is a gun fielder, and of course, finds his ways to stay in the news at all times. Who can forget him knocking out a bloke outside a Bristol bar, and then facing an eight-match ban, that led him to miss the 2017-18 Ashes series, where the English lost 0-4. But that only added to his X factor in a way. He started taking his cricket more seriously, and it showed in his performances.
Most Memorable Knock & the Bazball Era
Having made his debut in 2013, he played many significant parts in England wins, but none greater that his efforts at Leeds, during the 2019 Ashes series, against Australia. To get bundled out for 67 in the first innings, and then end up chasing 359 is no mean task. What makes it even greater is Stokes scored 135, and stitched a partnership of 76 with Jack Leach, who scored only 1 from 17 deliveries.
That improbable win will only go down as one of the best Test matches ever played, that will only be remembered for Stokes’ heroics. But his heroics are not restricted to that one life-changing knock.
No Series Lost..
The way he took to England captaincy in Tests, under Brendon McCullum, and the advent of Bazball, all changed their cricket for good. Prior to him taking charge, the team was in doldrums, having lost series’ against West Indies 0-1, Ashes 0-4, home series against New Zealand 1-0, and away series against India 1-3.
But the first series he took over, the results were to see for everyone. They thrashed Kiwis 3-0 at home, beat South Africa 2-1, Pakistan 3-0 in an away series, and most importantly, saved England the embarrassment of a series loss at home against India, when the visitors were leading 1-2. Perhaps, all this could be attributed to that inexplicable X factor, after all.
Can’t Discount Stokes’ Bowling
Some injuries have seen Stokes under-bowl himself these days, but to undermine his bowling skills..do it at your own peril. One needs to be reminded of 6/36 against Australia at Trent Bridge in 2015. It was him, who stepped up in the third innings with the ball for England, as the others couldn’t dismiss Chris Rogers (52) and David Warner (64). He dismissed them, and thwarted any chances of a comeback.
Or his 5/73 against India in Mohali (2016), in a losing cause. When India piled up 417 in the first innings, and Anderson & Woakes failed, guess who stepped up. Once again, maybe, it was just this X factor.
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