Ben Stokes may soon become Sir Stokes

Sports Desk: The Man of the Match in the final of the ICC World Cup 2019, Ben Stokes has the world at his feet. Currently the most popular person in the whole of England, the New Zealand-born all-rounder may soon have one of the most prestigious honours bestowed upon him by the British Royalty.

Stokes was the lynchpin in the England batting lineup and stood up at the right time when the team needed him the most.

He made a brilliant 84* in the final and negotiated a tenacious New Zealand bowling line-up that had engulfed the top order pretty quickly following which even Joe Root and Eoin Morgan fell early. But along with Jos Buttler, who scored a fifty himself, Stokes added more than 100 runs and brought England closer to the target of 242 runs. Even in the Super Over, which was played after the match was tied, Stokes made 8* to give England a target of 16 to defend.

Stokes may soon become Sir Ben Stokes as the two contenders for Britain’s PM job have said that he will be honoured with knighthood when they come to power. Both Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt, one of whom will replace outgoing Prime Minister Theresa May later this month, said in a debate that the all-rounder will be knighted when either of them became PM.

“I will give dukedoms, whatever – I will go to the maximum, to, what, the Garter King of Arms. Yes is the answer, absolutely”, Johnson, who is favorite to replace Theresa May was quoted as saying by cricket.co.au. “Of course,” said Hunt, when the question was forwarded to him as well.

Eleven Englishmen have been knighted for services to cricket, the most recent of which was former Test and ODI skipper, Sir Alastair Cook. Stokes made a brilliant comeback into the team after the terrible phase of missing the 2017-18 Ashes, as he was being investigated for the pub brawl in which was involved in Bristol. He was later found not guilty of affray.

The world champion team met the current PM May at 10 Downing Street and she said, “The final was not just cricket at its best but sport at its best – courage, character, sportsmanship, drama, incredible skill and even the odd slice of luck. You are a team that represents modern Britain, and that plays like no other side in the world. You have helped the nation fall in love with cricket once again. You have inspired countless future Morgans, Rashids and Archers.”

Source: Agencies

risingbd/Dhaka/July 16, 2019/AI