Benjamin Andrew Stokes

r /> A product of the Durham Academy, Stokes scored a wonderful century against India in the 2010 Under-19 World Cup, before his entry into first-class cricket. He had a wonderful 2011, piling heaps of runs and taking wickets at the same time. A brilliant hundred with five sixes in an over against Hampshire, and a month later a maiden limited-overs ton proved his mettle on the domestic front. However, Stokes was struck by a broken finger injury, but he still continued to play for the England Lions. He was then called up for England's ODI series against Ireland later that year. Consistently in contention for the shorter formats for England, Stokes was selected in the England Test side for the Ashes Down Under, in 2013. Luck turned towards Stokes when Jonathan Trott was forced to return home due to stress related illness after the first Test at the 'Gabba. Stokes was handed his first cap as his replacement in the second Test at the Adelaide Oval. The cricketing fraternity saw what Stokes was made of in the third Test at the WACA where he scored his maiden Test ton while all the other English batsmen struggled. In the Sydney Test, he picked up his maiden five-fer, taking six Aussie wickets albeit in a losing cause. Stokes was the silver lining in what was a disastrous series for England.