Quick Answer
Ben Stokes is a New Zealand born England all rounder who retired from international cricket in June 2026 after a 15 year career, and who has now signed with Adelaide Strikers for the 2026-27 Big Bash League season. He played 122 Tests, 114 ODIs, and 43 T20Is for England, scoring 7,273, 3,463, and 585 runs respectively, and taking 252, 74, and 26 wickets. He won the 2019 Cricket World Cup and the 2022 T20 World Cup with England, captained the Test side through the “Bazball” era, and announced his retirement mid match during the deciding third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge in June 2026.
If you just wanted the short version: he is 35 years old, stands 183 cm tall, bats left handed, bowls right arm fast medium, and has now signed a one year deal worth around AU$500,000 to play a full BBL season for Adelaide Strikers, more than a decade after his only previous Big Bash appearance. Everything else, including his full stat tables across every format and his standalone BBL numbers, is below.
You can also follow live scores, match reports, and player updates on CRIC INFO 365.
Ben Stokes: Biography at a Glance
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Benjamin Andrew Stokes (Ben Stokes) |
| Born | 4 June 1991, Christchurch, New Zealand |
| Age | 35 |
| Nickname | Stokesy |
| Height | 183 cm (6 ft 0 in), confirmed by ESPNcricinfo and Wikipedia |
| Weight | Not officially confirmed |
| Batting Style | Left handed |
| Bowling Style | Right arm fast medium |
| Playing Role | All rounder |
| Test Caps | 122, debut 5 December 2013 vs Australia, last Test 25 June 2026 vs New Zealand |
| ODI Caps | 114, debut 25 August 2011 vs Ireland, last ODI 11 November 2023 vs Pakistan |
| T20I Caps | 43, debut 23 September 2011 vs West Indies, last T20I 13 November 2022 vs Pakistan |
| Major Honours | 2019 Cricket World Cup, 2022 T20 World Cup, both with England |
According to Ben Stokes’ official Cricinfo profile, he is a left handed batting all rounder who bowls right arm fast medium, and his Wikipedia record confirms both World Cup wins and his full retirement from international cricket in June 2026.
Teams Ben Stokes Has Played For
| Team | Format | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Durham | English County Cricket | 2009 to present |
| Canterbury | New Zealand domestic cricket | 2017/18 |
| Melbourne Renegades | Big Bash League | 2014/15 |
| Rising Pune Supergiant | Indian Premier League | 2017 |
| Rajasthan Royals | Indian Premier League | 2018 to 2021 |
| Northern Superchargers | The Hundred, England | 2021 to 2024 |
| Chennai Super Kings | Indian Premier League | 2023 |
| Adelaide Strikers | Big Bash League | 2026/27 to present |
Ben Stokes signed for Adelaide Strikers on 1 September 2026, becoming the first overseas player to join under the BBL’s new direct signing model and returning to Australian domestic T20 cricket for the first time in more than a decade.
How Did Ben Stokes’s Career Start?
Ben Stokes was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, to Gerard “Ged” Stokes, a former New Zealand rugby league international and coach, and mother Deborah, who has Māori heritage. When Ben was 12, the family moved to Cumbria in northern England after his father took the head coaching job at Workington Town rugby league club. The family settled in Cockermouth, where Stokes started playing club cricket for Cockermouth Cricket Club and helped the side win a league title at just 15 years old.
He made his first class debut for Durham in 2009 and progressed quickly through England’s age group and development pathways. His full England debut came in an ODI against Ireland in August 2011, followed by a T20I debut against the West Indies the same year, before he finally earned his Test cap against Australia in December 2013.
What Is Ben Stokes’s Full International Record for England?
Across three formats, Ben Stokes built one of the most complete all round careers in modern English cricket.
- Tests: 122 matches, 7,273 runs at 34.46, 14 centuries, 252 wickets
- ODIs: 114 matches, 3,463 runs at 41.22, 5 centuries, 74 wickets
- T20Is: 43 matches, 585 runs at 21.66, 26 wickets
He won two major ICC titles with England: the 2019 Cricket World Cup on home soil, and the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia. He also captained England in 44 Tests, winning 24 and losing 18, taking over the role in 2022 and helping build the aggressive style of play widely known as “Bazball” alongside coach Brendon McCullum.
What Are Ben Stokes’s Most Famous Cricket Moments?
A handful of innings explain why Ben Stokes is talked about the way he is.
The biggest is his unbeaten 84 in the 2019 Cricket World Cup final at Lord’s, which helped send the match into a Super Over and gave England their first ever ODI World Cup title. He was named Player of the Match. Weeks later, in the 2019 Ashes at Headingley, he produced an unbeaten 135 while chasing 359 with England reeling at 286 for 9, an innings widely regarded as one of the greatest ever played in Test cricket.
In February 2023, Stokes broke the record for the most sixes hit in a Test career, passing the previous mark of 107 held by his own coach, Brendon McCullum, and finished his career with 138. He played his 100th Test against India in February 2024, and led England through a string of record breaking, ultra aggressive Test wins during the Bazball years, including a memorable chase against India at Edgbaston.
Why Did Ben Stokes Retire From International Cricket in 2026?
This is the question every cricket fan has been searching for since late June 2026. The short version: Ben Stokes announced his retirement live during the deciding third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge, in an emotional dressing room speech to his teammates, after 15 years of international cricket.
The build up to the decision was messy. After England won the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s, Stokes and teammate Gus Atkinson were involved in an incident at a Chelsea nightclub, breaching a curfew and getting caught up in an altercation involving a rugby player and a security guard. Stokes was dropped from the second Test at The Oval on disciplinary grounds while the matter was investigated, though the independent Cricket Regulator and the ECB later cleared both players, citing insufficient evidence of a regulatory breach. He returned to lead the side for the deciding third Test at Trent Bridge, with the series locked at 1-1.
On the fourth morning, Stokes told his teammates it would be his last two days as captain and as an England player. He said he had “had many trips to the well before for this team” and had “one more trip to do.” He was promoted to open the batting for his farewell innings, received a guard of honour from the New Zealand players, and was dismissed for 30 off 20 balls after hitting two fours and two sixes. He later explained that at 35, the physical toll of the job had simply caught up with him, saying it “wasn’t meant to be” when he tried to push through the week.
The retirement triggered a bigger shake up in English cricket. Joe Root, who had previously captained the Test side from 2017 to 2022, was reappointed Test captain starting with the series against Pakistan on 19 August 2026. Former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming was brought in as the new Test head coach, while Brendon McCullum stepped back from the red ball set up. Harry Brook continues as England’s white ball captain.
Why Is Ben Stokes Joining Adelaide Strikers in the BBL?
With his international career over, Ben Stokes’ schedule opened up completely, and he wasted little time finding a new challenge. On 1 September 2026, Adelaide Strikers confirmed they had signed Stokes for the entire 2026-27 BBL season, beating interest from Sydney Sixers and Melbourne Renegades to land him.
The deal is reported to be worth around AU$500,000, potentially making him one of the most expensive signings in BBL history, and it came as the league moved to a new direct signing model that gives clubs more freedom to negotiate directly with overseas stars rather than relying purely on a draft. Stokes will be available for the whole tournament, including the finals, which is unusually rare for a marquee overseas signing. His first match is scheduled against David Warner’s Sydney Thunder in Canberra on 16 December 2026, with his first home game at Adelaide Oval on 23 December against the same opponent, and the BBL 16 final set for 26 January 2027 if the Strikers make it that far.
This is not Stokes’ first taste of the Big Bash. He played a brief stint for Melbourne Renegades back in the 2014-15 season as an injury replacement, meaning his return with Adelaide Strikers arrives almost 12 years later.
Off the Field: Family, Health, and Personal History
Ben Stokes married Clare Ratcliffe on 14 October 2017 at a church in East Brent, Somerset, after the couple got engaged in 2013. They have two children, a son named Layton and a daughter named Libby, and the family is based in County Durham.
His father, Ged Stokes, was diagnosed with brain cancer in early 2020 after falling ill during England’s tour of South Africa, and Stokes was granted leave from a Test series against Pakistan later that year to be with his family in New Zealand. Ged passed away in December 2020 at the age of 65. Stokes has often paid tribute to his father on the field with a three fingered salute, a nod to the finger his father lost during his own rugby league career.
In September 2017, Stokes was arrested following an incident outside a nightclub in Bristol and was later charged with affray. He missed that winter’s Ashes tour as a result and stepped down as vice captain. Following a trial in August 2018, he was found not guilty, along with his co-defendants, after telling the court he had been defending two men from homophobic abuse. In July 2021, Stokes took an indefinite break from all cricket, citing mental health concerns alongside a finger injury that needed surgery, before returning later that year and eventually taking on the Test captaincy.
How Tall Is Ben Stokes? Height and Weight
Ben Stokes’ height is confirmed at 183 cm, or 6 feet, by ESPNcricinfo and Wikipedia. His weight has not been officially published by a credible cricket source, though he has spoken publicly about working hard on his fitness and diet at points in his career to manage recurring injuries. Treat any specific weight figure you see online with caution, since it has not been confirmed by a verified record.
Ben Stokes International Career Records
Test Batting, Bowling, and Fielding
| Matches | Innings | Not Outs | Runs | HS | Average | Strike Rate | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 122 | 220 | 9 | 7,273 | 258 | 34.47 | 58.53 | 14 | 37 |
| Wickets | Best Bowling | Average | Economy | Strike Rate | 4w | 5w |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 252 | 6/22 | 30.98 | 3.33 | 55.89 | 10 | 6 |
| Catches | Run Outs | Stumpings |
|---|---|---|
| 115 | 8 | 0 |
ODI Batting, Bowling, and Fielding
| Matches | Innings | Not Outs | Runs | HS | Average | Strike Rate | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 114 | 99 | 15 | 3,463 | 182 | 41.23 | 95.69 | 5 | 24 |
| Wickets | Best Bowling | Average | Economy | Strike Rate | 4w | 5w |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 74 | 5/61 | 42.39 | 6.05 | 42.03 | 1 | 1 |
| Catches | Run Outs | Stumpings |
|---|---|---|
| 55 | 6 | 0 |
T20I Batting, Bowling, and Fielding
| Matches | Innings | Not Outs | Runs | HS | Average | Strike Rate | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43 | 36 | 9 | 585 | 52* | 21.67 | 128.01 | 0 | 1 |
| Wickets | Best Bowling | Average | Economy | Strike Rate | 4w | 5w |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | 3/26 | 32.92 | 8.39 | 23.54 | 0 | 0 |
| Catches | Run Outs | Stumpings |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | 5 | 0 |
Ben Stokes Domestic and Franchise Career Records
First Class Batting, Bowling, and Fielding
| Matches | Innings | Not Outs | Runs | HS | Average | Strike Rate | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 211 | 359 | 18 | 11,821 | 258 | 34.67 | — | 23 | 61 |
| Wickets | Best Bowling | Average | Economy | Strike Rate | 4w | 5w |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 468 | 7/67 | 29.04 | 3.42 | 50.90 | 22 | 11 |
| Catches | Run Outs | Stumpings |
|---|---|---|
| 160 | 9 | 0 |
List A Batting, Bowling, and Fielding
| Matches | Innings | Not Outs | Runs | HS | Average | Strike Rate | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 193 | 170 | 26 | 5,548 | 182 | 38.53 | 96.60 | 10 | 31 |
| Wickets | Best Bowling | Average | Economy | Strike Rate | 4w | 5w |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 144 | 5/61 | 34.26 | 5.76 | 35.67 | 3 | 1 |
| Catches | Run Outs | Stumpings |
|---|---|---|
| 87 | 8 | 0 |
Domestic T20 Batting, Bowling, and Fielding
| Matches | Innings | Not Outs | Runs | HS | Average | Strike Rate | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 157 | 143 | 23 | 3,013 | 107* | 25.11 | 133.61 | 2 | 10 |
| Wickets | Best Bowling | Average | Economy | Strike Rate | 4w | 5w |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 90 | 4/16 | 31.04 | 8.48 | 21.97 | 2 | 0 |
| Catches | Run Outs | Stumpings |
|---|---|---|
| 74 | 10 | 0 |
IPL Only Batting, Bowling, and Fielding
| Matches | Innings | Not Outs | Runs | HS | Average | Strike Rate | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45 | 44 | 6 | 935 | 107* | 24.61 | 133.95 | 2 | 2 |
| Wickets | Best Bowling | Average | Economy | Strike Rate | 4w | 5w |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | 3/15 | 35.43 | 8.64 | 24.61 | 0 | 0 |
| Catches | Run Outs | Stumpings |
|---|---|---|
| 23 | 2 | 0 |
Stokes was one of the most expensive overseas signings in IPL history at two separate auctions, first with Rising Pune Supergiant in 2017 and then with Rajasthan Royals in 2018, before a later stint with Chennai Super Kings in 2023.
Ben Stokes BBL Stats: Full Big Bash League Breakdown
Since fans specifically search for his Big Bash numbers on their own, here is the standalone BBL record from his 2014-15 season with Melbourne Renegades, the only BBL cricket he has played to date.
BBL Batting and Fielding
| Matches | Innings | Not Outs | Runs | Highest Score | Average | Strike Rate | 100s | 50s | Catches |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 0 | 128 | 77 | 32.00 | 156.09 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
BBL Bowling
| Matches | Balls | Runs Conceded | Wickets | Best Bowling | Average | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 30 | 61 | 3 | 2/22 | 20.33 | 12.20 |
Stokes joined Melbourne Renegades on 2 January 2015 as a replacement for the injured Jesse Ryder and played just 4 matches before the season ended, scoring a rapid 77 in one innings. His return to the BBL with Adelaide Strikers for the entire 2026-27 season will be his first Big Bash cricket since that brief stint, and this time as a full season marquee signing rather than a short term injury cover player.
Records and Career Highlights
- Player of the Match in the 2019 Cricket World Cup final, scoring an unbeaten 84 to help England win their first ODI World Cup title
- Unbeaten 135 at Headingley in the 2019 Ashes, widely rated one of the greatest innings in Test history
- 2022 T20 World Cup winner with England, finishing the final unbeaten
- Holds the record for most sixes in Test cricket history, 138, passing former coach Brendon McCullum’s previous mark
- Played his 100th Test match in February 2024
- Captained England in 44 Tests, winning 24
- One of the highest paid overseas signings in IPL history across separate stints with Rising Pune Supergiant, Rajasthan Royals, and Chennai Super Kings
- Retired from international cricket on 29 June 2026, ending a 15 year England career
- Signed a full season deal with Adelaide Strikers for BBL 16, reported to be worth around AU$500,000
FAQs
Has Ben Stokes retired from international cricket?
Yes. He announced his retirement mid match during the deciding third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge in June 2026, ending a 15 year England career across all formats.
What is Ben Stokes’s BBL record?
From his brief 2014-15 season with Melbourne Renegades, he played 4 matches, scoring 128 runs at an average of 32.00 with a highest score of 77, and taking 3 wickets with the ball. He returns to the BBL with Adelaide Strikers for the full 2026-27 season.
How old is Ben Stokes?
He was born on 4 June 1991, making him 35 years old as of the 2026 season.
What is Ben Stokes’s height and weight?
He is 183 cm (6 feet) tall, confirmed by ESPNcricinfo and Wikipedia. His weight has not been officially published by a credible source.
Why did Ben Stokes retire from international cricket?
He cited the physical toll of 15 years of international cricket at age 35, announcing the decision during an emotional dressing room speech in the middle of his final Test, shortly after being cleared of any wrongdoing following a nightclub incident that had seen him dropped for one match.
Which BBL team does Ben Stokes play for?
He has signed with Adelaide Strikers for the entire 2026-27 BBL season, his first Big Bash cricket since a brief 2014-15 stint with Melbourne Renegades.
Is Ben Stokes married, and does he have children?
Yes. He married Clare Ratcliffe in October 2017, and the couple have two children, a son named Layton and a daughter named Libby.
What is Ben Stokes’s biggest career achievement?
Most fans point to his unbeaten 84 in the 2019 Cricket World Cup final, though his 138 career Test sixes, a world record, and his part in England’s 2022 T20 World Cup win are just as significant.
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