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Ben Stokes (Cricketer) Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 28, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth4 June 1991

Age31 Years

BirthplaceChristchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand

ProfessionEngland Cricketer (all-rounder)

NationalityEnglish

Marital statusMarried

SpouseClare Ratcliffe

FamilyFather - Gerard Stokes; Mother - Deborah Stokes

Net worth$10 million

Ben Stokes (Cricketer) Biography

Ben Stokes is an England all‑rounder born in Christchurch, New Zealand. A right‑handed batting force and useful bowler, he has been central to England's up

Early life and background

Benjamin Andrew Stokes was born on 4 June 1991 in Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand. His family moved from New Zealand to northern England when he was a child. Stokes grew up in a sporting household: his father, Gerard (also written Gerald in some accounts), was involved in rugby league as a player and coach, while his mother Deborah played cricket in New Zealand. He is identified as English by nationality and has spoken about the importance of his roots in both countries.

Career

Stokes established himself as an England all‑rounder across formats, making his international debuts in limited overs cricket in 2011 and in Tests in late 2013. His ODI debut came on 25 August 2011 against Ireland, and he made his T20 debut on 23 September 2011 versus the West Indies. He earned his first Test cap on 5 December 2013 against Australia in Adelaide.

Across his career Stokes has combined powerful batting with effective seam bowling. He has worn jersey number 67 for England and has represented a range of domestic and franchise sides, including Durham, England Lions, England XI, Melbourne Renegades and teams in New Zealand and county cricket. In the Indian Premier League he has been associated with teams such as Rising Pune Supergiants, where in 2017 he was noted as a top overseas signing.

Stokes has set several batting benchmarks for England. He recorded some of the fastest centuries by an England batsman, including an 85‑ball century at Lord's in 2015 and a notably rapid Test hundred in Cape Town the same year. He and Jonny Bairstow put together a record sixth‑wicket stand of 399 in a Test versus South Africa. By combining centuries with wickets in Tests, Stokes joined a select group of England left‑handers and all‑rounders with notable multi‑disciplinary contributions.

A defining moment for his international standing came during the 2013–14 Ashes series in Australia, widely viewed as a turning point in his career. In white‑ball cricket he announced his retirement from ODIs in July 2022, stating he would play his last game for England in that format on 19 July 2022 against South Africa in Durham. He later reversed that decision and returned to ODI selection, rejoining England’s World Cup preliminary squad and reacting publicly to his comeback.

Public profile

Stokes is 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) tall with blue eyes and blonde hair. Known by nicknames such as "Stokesy," "The Hurt Locker" and "Rocky," he is a high‑profile figure in English cricket. He enjoys driving and listening to music and lists Kevin Pietersen and Dale Steyn among players he admires. He has several tattoos, including motivational text and a phoenix image.

On the field he is noted for a powerful pull shot and for preferring to face rivals such as Australia. His career achievements include being one of the few England players to combine multiple Test centuries with significant wicket tallies, and reaching milestones in ODI runs and wickets. On 13 September 2023, Stokes scored 182 off 124 balls in an ODI against New Zealand, passing 3,000 ODI runs and becoming one of a small number of English players to reach both 3,000 runs and 50 wickets in the format; that innings also set a new highest individual ODI score for England.

Stokes has been open about the pressures that come with elite sport. In January 2020 he was named ICC Cricketer of the Year. A film about his life, Ben Stokes: Phoenix from the Ashes, premiered on Amazon Prime in August 2022; in it he discussed a vulnerable period of his life and the value of mental‑health support.

Personal life

Stokes is married to Clare Ratcliffe. The couple have children, including a son named Layton. His faith is described as Christian. He has been publicly associated with a few on‑field controversies, including being given out obstructing the field during an ODI against Australia in 2015, a rare form of dismissal.

Latest updates

After retiring from ODIs in July 2022 and playing his last match in that format in Durham, Stokes returned to England’s limited‑overs plans in 2023. He produced an outstanding ODI performance in September 2023, scoring 182 against New Zealand and reaching the 3,000‑run mark in the format while also registering his place among England players who have exceeded both 3,000 runs and 50 wickets in ODIs.
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Recent Work

Ben Stokes: Phoenix from the Ashes

Documentary film in which Stokes discusses a difficult period in his life and mental health, premiered on Amazon Prime.

2022
182 vs New Zealand (ODI)

Scored 182 off 124 balls in an ODI against New Zealand, completing 3,000 ODI runs and setting England's highest individual ODI score.

2023
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Career Highlights

  1. Test debut for England on 5 December 2013 vs Australia
  2. Fast century at Lord's in 2015 (85 balls)
  3. One of the fastest Test centuries (Cape Town, 2015)
  4. Part of record 399 sixth‑wicket partnership with Jonny Bairstow
  5. Named ICC Cricketer of the Year (January 2020)
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Net Worth

$10 million

Figures are editorial estimates based on publicly available reporting and may change as new information emerges.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Ben Stokes (Cricketer) born?

4 June 1991

What is Ben Stokes (Cricketer) known for?

England Cricketer (all-rounder)

What is Ben Stokes (Cricketer)’s marital status?

Married

Who is Ben Stokes (Cricketer) married to?

Clare Ratcliffe

What is Ben Stokes (Cricketer)’s net worth?

$10 million