Ben Stokes is a cricketer who plays for the English team for which he was once vice-captain. Since starting his career in 2011, Stoke has risen to the top ranks in the sport, holding the record for the fastest double century record ever in England. Although he has maintained an enviable career, he has struggled in his personal life due to legal issues he has faced since his arrest in 2017 and many other smaller issues before that.
Biography of Ben Stokes
It was like Benjamin Andrew Stokes that Ben was born on June 4, 1991 in Christchurch, New Zealand. He grew up there until the age of 12 when he moved to the UK with his family after his father, Gerard Stokes, was appointed manager of the Workington Town rugby union club.
Although his father was a rugby player before he retired, it was cricket that Ben found love after moving to the North of England. It was there that he began to learn the sport and very soon he found himself playing in small clubs. Academically, Stokes did not do well after moving to England, leaving school with two GCSEs under his belt. There, he was teased because of his accent.
Since his mother worked a lot, he spent more time with his father.
Ever since he started playing cricket, there was no wondering how far he could go based on his talents, but the years would reveal how controversies would set him back.
He made his debut in 2009 for Durham and in 2015 joined Melbourne Renegades. He also played for Rising Pune Supergiant in 2017, then Canterbury, then Rajasthan Royals in 2018. He made his debut for the senior English side in 2011 but was unable to play in 2012 due to issues he had met. with his form, injuries and other things related to disciplinary matters.
Looking back at his career, he has achieved a lot including scoring the most points from the first session of a single day of practice to break the doubles record of 153 balls set by Nathan Astle against England in 2002.
His wife
Ben Stokes is a married man who tied the knot Clare Ratcliffe in 2017. The pair have been together for a very long time and got engaged in 2013. Together, Ben and his wife were blessed with two children, Layton and Libby, born in 2015.
Case and trial, why was he arrested?
Growing up, one of the things that could easily be associated with the cricketer was how short-tempered he always was and how he always got into trouble or got away with it. In fact, it was revealed that at one point a match had to be called off following an altercation that started because of him.
The interesting thing, however, is that he managed to keep his path from getting confused with the law, that is until 2017, when he was arrested on September 25 following an incident which left a man in need of hospitalization.
His arrest was due to a fight that ensued after he was accused of impersonating two gay men and making derogatory remarks.
The issue affected his place in the Ashes squadSince September 28, the England and Wales Cricket Commission (ECB) announced that Stokes and Alex Hales, also involved, would not be considered for selection at the within the team until further notice.
Although it was later announced that Hales was not eligible for selection on December 4, Stokes was announced to the team in January 2018, but a few days later (January 15, 2018) , he was charged with affray.
Stokes made an appearance on February 13 at Bristol Magistrate Court where he pleaded not guilty. Following this, the trial date was set for August 6, 2018 and continued until August 14, 2018. During the trial, Stokes admitted to hitting a man, but only because he had insulted another man because of his homosexuality. More so, he added that he was not an angry man who had lost control of himself.
On August 14, Ben Stokes was found not guilty of affray after a three-hour jury deliberation ending the prosecution at Bristol Crown Court.