The best of Ben Stokes in international cricket

By Anushka Karnail

Few cricketers have embodied resilience, passion and the ability to rise to the occasion quite like Ben Stokes. Whether it was rescuing England from impossible situations, delivering with the ball when his team needed him most, or producing moments of brilliance in the field, Stokes built a reputation as the ultimate big-match player. More often than not, when the stakes were highest, England turned to him and he delivered.

His career was defined by unforgettable moments. Stokes has repeatedly produced performances that will live long in cricket's memory. It is no surprise that Nasser Hussain's iconic line, "You cannot do that, Ben Stokes!", perfectly captures the sense of disbelief that often accompanied his exploits.

Stokes' retirement brings the curtain down on a remarkable 15-year international career. A fierce competitor, inspirational leader and one of England's finest all-rounders, he leaves behind a legacy built on courage, character and an uncanny ability to thrive under pressure. Here, we look back at some performances that defined the Ben Stokes era.

120 vs Australia, Perth, 2013

Ben Stokes announced himself on the biggest stage with a maiden Test century in just his second appearance for England during the 2013 Ashes. With Australia leading the series 2-0, England arrived in Perth desperate to keep the contest alive, only to find themselves battling on one of the toughest batting surfaces of the tour.

Chasing an improbable 504 for victory, England were in deep trouble at 121/4 after the dismissals of Alastair Cook, Joe Root and Kevin Pietersen. At just 22 years of age, Stokes walked in and showed the fighting spirit that would become the hallmark of his career. He stitched together crucial partnerships with Ian Bell (99 runs) and Matt Prior (76 runs), standing firm against a relentless Australian pace attack.

The milestone arrived in memorable fashion. A glove down the leg side raced away to the fine-leg boundary, bringing up England's first century of the series and only the third by an English batter in Perth since 1987. Stokes celebrated with a proud raise of the bat before finishing the session by taking the attack to Nathan Lyon.

His dismissal for 120 shortly after lunch brought an end to a valiant effort. England eventually lost both the Test and the Ashes, but Perth marked the arrival of a player built for the biggest occasions.

Ben Stokes celebrating his century at Perth in 2013. //Getty Images

3/26 vs New Zealand, Delhi, 2016

After missing the 2014 edition through injury, Ben Stokes made his ICC Men's T20 World Cup debut in 2016, and it could hardly have come at a bigger stage. England faced an unbeaten New Zealand side in the semi-final in Delhi, with a place in the Final on the line.

New Zealand posted 153/8, thanks in no small part to Stokes' superb spell at the death. Trusted once again with England's toughest overs, the all-rounder mixed aggression with composure to keep the Black Caps in check. Although two full tosses briefly let the pressure slip, Stokes still removed Luke Ronchi and Corey Anderson in successive deliveries before returning for a superb final over.

He conceded just three runs in the 20th over while picking up another wicket and capped off the innings by hitting the stumps directly to run out Mitchell McClenaghan. His figures of 3/26 included 11 dot balls and played a crucial role in restricting one of the tournament's strongest batting line-ups.

England would go on to chase down the target and book their place in the final, with Stokes' disciplined spell proving one of the defining performances of the night.

Ben Stokes celebrating the wicket of Mitchell Santner during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup semi-final 2016. //Getty Images

6/22 vs West Indies, Lord's, 2017

With the three-match series level at 1-1, the final Test at Lord's offered Ben Stokes another opportunity to showcase his growing reputation as one of the world's premier all-rounders. He responded with the finest bowling performance of his Test career.

Harnessing pace, bounce and late movement, Stokes produced a devastating spell that dismantled the West Indies batting line-up. He first removed Kieran Powell with a sharp caught-and-bowled chance before striking twice in the space of three deliveries to dismiss Roston Chase and Shane Dowrich.

The carnage didn't stop there. Stokes ripped through the lower order, claiming three wickets in six deliveries to finish with career-best figures of 6/22. His spell earned him a place on both the batting and bowling honours boards at Lord's, a feat achieved by only a select few cricketers.

To complete a memorable all-round display, Stokes also scored a fighting half-century with the bat as England cruised to a nine-wicket victory and sealed the series.

Ben Stokes walks off with the match-ball after picking six wickets in the first innings against West Indies in 2017. //Getty Images

84 vs New Zealand, Lord's, 2019

There could not have been a bigger stage. A home World Cup Final at Lord's, England against New Zealand, with both nations chasing their maiden ICC Men's Cricket World Cup title.

After New Zealand posted 241/8, England found themselves under immense pressure at 86/4. Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler rebuilt the innings with a crucial 110-run partnership, but even then the odds remained stacked against the hosts as wickets continued to tumble around him.

The drama reached another level in the final over. England needed 15 runs, with Stokes carrying the hopes of an entire nation. After two dot balls, he launched Trent Boult for a towering six over midwicket. Moments later came one of the most extraordinary incidents in cricket history, as Martin Guptill's throw deflected off Stokes' diving bat and raced away to the boundary, giving England four priceless overthrows.

Fortune had already smiled on Stokes earlier when Boult took a stunning catch on the boundary, only to realise he had stepped on the rope. Given a second chance, Stokes made New Zealand pay in the most dramatic fashion possible.

With scores tied after 50 overs, the final was decided by the first-ever World Cup Super Over. Stokes once again walked out to bat alongside Buttler, striking a vital boundary as England posted 15. A brilliant run-out by Buttler on the final ball sealed England's maiden World Cup title, while Stokes' unbeaten 84 earned him the Player of the Match award and cemented his place among cricket's greatest big-match performers.

135 vs Australia, Headingley, 2019

If there is one innings that defines Ben Stokes, it is Headingley 2019.

Barely a month after inspiring England to their first-ever ODI World Cup title, Stokes returned to Test cricket with another mountain to climb. Australia led the Ashes 1-0 heading into the third Test at Leeds, and England needed something extraordinary to keep the series alive.

Set a daunting target of 359, England looked well placed at 156/3 at the start of the final day. But the Australian attack, spearheaded by Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon, tore through the batting order. Suddenly, England were 286/9, still needing 73 runs with only Jack Leach for company.

What followed remains one of the greatest Test innings ever played.

With Hazlewood closing in on a 10-wicket match haul, Stokes launched a stunning counterattack, smashing 19 runs in a single over to bring up his century before following it with two towering sixes. He farmed the strike brilliantly, shielding Leach while taking on Australia's best bowlers almost single-handedly.

Australia had opportunities to finish the game. Marcus Harris dropped Stokes on 116, Lyon fumbled a straightforward run-out chance involving Leach, and an leg-before decision that would have ended the innings couldn't be reviewed because Australia had already exhausted their referrals. Every twist seemed to favour England's talisman.

With scores level, Leach scampered through for a single before Stokes drove Cummins through the covers to complete one of the most remarkable victories in Test history. Arms outstretched, he let out an unforgettable roar as Headingley erupted around him. It was an innings that not only kept England alive in the Ashes but also cemented Stokes' place among cricket's immortals.

Ben Stokes of England celebrates hitting the winning runs to win the third Test at Leeds against Australia. //Getty Images

52 vs Pakistan, Melbourne, 2022

Three years after his World Cup heroics at Lord's, Ben Stokes once again found himself at the centre of another global Final.

England faced Pakistan in the 2022 ICC Men's T20 World Cup Final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, chasing a modest but tricky target of 138. On a surface that offered plenty to the bowlers, Stokes produced another masterclass in handling pressure.

His innings was far from explosive early on. At one stage, he had crawled to 24 off 34 deliveries as Pakistan's bowlers kept England in check, but Stokes never panicked.

The momentum shifted dramatically when Shaheen Afridi injured his knee while taking a catch and was unable to complete his spell. Stokes immediately capitalised, taking on Iftikhar Ahmed with a boundary and a towering six to swing the game firmly in England's favour.

With Moeen Ali also finding timely boundaries, the required rate quickly dipped below a run a ball. Stokes remained calm to the finish, driving Mohammad Wasim through the covers before sealing victory with a trademark pull through the leg side.

His unbeaten 52 was his maiden half-century in T20 internationals, and it could not have come on a bigger occasion. England became the first men's team to hold both the ODI and T20 World Cups simultaneously, with Stokes once again proving to be their ultimate man for the biggest stage.

182 vs New Zealand, The Oval, 2023

Ben Stokes had retired from ODI cricket in July 2022, believing his body could no longer cope with the demands of all three formats. But with a home World Cup defence on the horizon, he reversed his decision just over a year later, returning to England's squad for the series against New Zealand and the tournament in India.

If there were any doubts about whether he could still dominate the 50-over format, Stokes answered them in spectacular fashion at The Oval.

Walking in at 13/2 with Trent Boult making full use of the new ball, Stokes steadied the innings alongside Dawid Malan, adding a mammoth 199-run partnership for the third wicket. Once settled, he unleashed one of the most destructive innings of his ODI career.

Lockie Ferguson bore the brunt of the assault, conceding 56 runs from the 30 deliveries Stokes faced. The left-hander initially looked to manufacture room outside leg stump before shifting seamlessly into a rhythm of controlled aggression, mixing calculated singles with towering blows into the stands.

Battling a troublesome knee, Stokes stood and delivered, launching nine sixes, including six in his final 31 deliveries, as he raced to England's highest individual ODI score.

Ben Stokes of England walks off after being dismissed for 182 against New Zealand in 2023. //Getty Images