Can Ben Stokes be considered the greatest England cricketer of all time after another game-changing effort in a big event final? Yeah, he can definitely be in the conversation,” a confident Jos Buttler responded in the post-match news conference.
Ben Stokes the Superman
Eoin Morgan dubbed Stokes the “superman” after his Player of the Match-winning heroics in the 2019 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup final. Ben Stokes already had a redemption story after a forgettable final in the 2016 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, where he conceded four sixes, and the match, to Carlos Brathwaite in the final over. Everyone back home is hoping to be the next Ben Stokes,” Morgan stated three years ago following Stokes’ outstanding performance in England’s title victory at Lord’s.
Ben Stokes, the best all-rounder England ever have
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Ben Stokes authored another chapter in his eventful career at another crowded stadium at the MCG in 2022, this time amassing his maiden T20I fifty in the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 against Pakistan with the team in trouble. He’s a real match-winner, and he’s been there in such situations several times.” “He simply knows a lot about how to accomplish it,” Buttler explained.
Stokes’ place in England’s dynamic batting lineup was under doubt heading into the competition. In the format, his batting average of 19 did not assist his chances. But he stepped up in two crucial games (a 42* against Sri Lanka with the game and the team’s survival on the line came before this hit).
On Sunday, he watched as England lost three wickets in the Power play against Pakistan’s aggressive bowling. With Buttler back in the hut, the onus was on Ben Stokes to lead England to victory. Despite a poor start, Ben Stokes stayed to the finish, keeping the needed run rate within reach to hit an unbeaten 52 off 49 balls and lead England to their second T20 World Cup triumph.
I believe it wasn’t his most fluid innings or he may be didn’t time the ball as well as he can, Buttler said. But you knew he was never going to go down without a fight and get up and be there at the finish. We were quite fortunate to have him, and he is one of the great English cricketers. Buttler joked about Stokes’ redemption following that disastrous night at the Wankhede six years ago, saying it was a shame he did his documentary a year early.
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It’s a very great story, isn’t it?” I think all these major moments like I’ll always remember his remarks to Jofra about how things don’t define you, and I think he’s obviously never allowed the 2016 final sort of hold him back, and the things he’s gone on to do in his career since then is just remarkable.”
Buttler also agreed that the England squad, which currently owns both the ODI and T20 World Cups, is in the running for the title of best white-ball team of all time. Winning in 2019 and now this T20 World Cup simply demonstrates the ambition that people had at the outset of where we could go as an England white ball squad.
“There is no reason why we should not continue to grow.”