Ben Stokes is one of six contenders for the 2019 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award. ECB reflect on the moments that made this a year to remember for England’s premier all-rounder.
English cricket captured the imagination of the nation in 2019 with two of the greatest cricketing performances ever seen.
The common denominator? One Ben Stokes.
The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Final win at Lord’s and the remarkable one-wicket win in the Specsavers Ashes Test at Emerald Headingley both featured truly epic performances from the talismanic all-rounder.
On Sunday he attends the coveted BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards, with a chance to cap an unforgettable year.
Ahead of that, here’s a look back at the moments that made 2019 a summer to remember for Ben Stokes.
The catch of the summer
Not content with scoring a determined 89 and taking two wickets for 12 runs, Stokes lit up the opening match of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup through an absolute screamer of a catch at the Kia Oval.
His virtuoso all-round performance set the tone for an outstanding tournament that included 465 runs and seven wickets.
By the barest of margins…
Stokes’ 84 not out in the World Cup final will go down as one of the greatest knocks ever seen.
England’s hopes looked bleak as they made difficult work of a run chase against the accurate and skilful New Zealand attack. Yet Stokes remained, calm among the chaos, occasionally belligerent and near to exhaustion.
He singlehandedly led England to a remarkable tie from the final ball. In a Cricket World Cup first, a ‘super over’ decided the match, with a weary Stokes sent out again to bat for England in a one-over contest.
After a day of incredible tension the home side lifted the World Cup amid extraordinary scenes at Lord’s.
Stokes was awarded the player of the match award and a nation celebrated.
History at Headingley
A seemingly impossible situation, a rampant Australian bowling attack, and the Specsavers Ashes on the line.
Enter Stokes. His breathtaking unbeaten 135 took England to victory by one wicket in front of delirious fans in Leeds and a nation gripped in front of televisions, radios and mobile phones across the UK.
It was described in commentary by Sir Alastair Cook as the greatest innings ever by an Englishman and evoked memories of Sir Ian Botham’s 1981 Ashes heroics at the same venue.
How to vote for Ben Stokes for BBC Sports Personality of the Year
Stokes is one of six contenders for the 2019 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.
Voting will be open to the public during the live BBC One show starting at 7pm on Sunday 15 December. Make sure you have your say!