Ben Stokes is not cast in the same mould as the vast majority of English cricketers. Fiery, combative, gladiatorial - he plays the game hard and with great gusto. He is an all-rounder who bats, bowls and fields at full throttle.
Stokes impresses with his physical stature and muscular brand of cricket. He doesn't back down, smashing the next ball for six, bowling his 90 mph "chin music", or taking a breathtakingly full-stretch catch at backward point.
Whether it's thrashing the fastest ever Test century at Lord's or the quickest ever Test double-hundred by an Englishman or destroying the Australian batting at Trent Bridge, Stokes plays the game he loves with his heart on his sleeve and with 100% effort and commitment. Cricket fans adore him for it.
His very first book focuses on the pivotal moments in his life and career so far. These episodes are vibrant, emotional, poignant - revealing the man in three dimensions, red in tooth and claw. From being forged as a young boy in New Zealand, to moving to Cumbria at the age of 11, to playing county cricket for Durham and then onto the England team, this book provides a riveting insight into one of the most exhilarating figures in sport today.
Review: This is the autobiography of the England cricketer Ben Stokes. Born in New Zealand, he moved to Cumbria aged 12 with his family when his father, a rugby league coach, was appointed as coach of Workington Town.
The book describes his childhood, firstly in New Zealand and subsequently in Cockermouth in Cumbria. Having been a keen sportsman since his earliest childhood, he was soon selected for representative cricket teams in Cumbria, before signing a professional contract with Durham County Cricket Club. He made his debut for the England One Day International Team in 2011, and for the England Test Match Team in 2013 during an Ashes Tour in Australia. It was during this tour that he scored his maiden Test Match century. His further cricketing exploits and his family life are described.
This book was published in 2016, so the author’s performances only up until the end of his season through injury in the summer of that year are described. It is a must read for all cricket fans and gives an insight into his personality and competitive spirit. His achievements during what would turn out out to be a remarkable summer of 2019 are described in a further book (and will be the subject of a further review).
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