2022 of Ben Stokes, that of the test revolution, the retirement of the ODI, the takeover of the T20 and the superb captaincy in Rawalpindi

Earlier in the year English Test Cricket looked shattered.

The man who would finally fix it was also a bit shaken when Ben Stokes struggled against a side load in games four and five of an Ashes series that England lost 4-0, a defeat that ended midway through ” greater malaise” after a win followed 17 friendlies.

But Stokes has since returned to rude health and, incredibly, has joined the England Test squad. Led by Stokes and Brendon McCullum’s coaching methods, Bazball was born. This ultra-positive cricket brand has won nine out of ten breaking speed records and beating opposing bowling attacks. This is Ben Stokes’ England.

We got a glimpse, although we didn’t know then, of what Ben Stokes’ England might look like when he broke 89 points in a 114-ball session against the West Indies in March, his first century since his return from a mental pause and the death of his father Ged.

Then, however, we got another glimpse of what England had accomplished over the previous 18 months – a meltdown – with a surrender in Grenada leaving the Tourists exposed to a 1-0 defeat in a row. Joe Root resigned as captain soon after, with a man on pole as his successor.

Stokes seemed the only realistic candidate, with few others besides him and Root guaranteeing a spot in the XI at the time. The full-term test of bowling stars Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad was even up in the air as the duo were banned from the West Indies series by acting men’s cricket general manager Sir Andrew Strauss.

It has been questioned whether it would be wise for England to hand the reins to their most important and influential player, particularly one who took time off from sport the previous year to focus on his well-being. to be. These questions quickly evaporated and it now seems amazing that they were asked at all. The results and style showed that Stokes was definitely the right fit.

Shortly after being named and making it clear he wanted Broad and Anderson back in the England eleven, Stokes shattered Worcestershire’s bowling attack while batting for Durham in the County Championship. Seventeen sixes were smoked in his 88-ball 161 score — five of them in as many deliveries from poor Pears spinner Josh Baker.

It was a round of flair and strength that he used to encourage his English compatriots to play Test cricket. He got what he wanted. England have scored 22,000 Tests in 2022, many since Stokes took charge incredibly quickly.

It was a measured but by no means slow penny from Root’s 157 ball that got the Stokes era off to a victorious start on an overcast Sunday morning against New Zealand at Lord’s. Any metaphorical clouds that still lingered over England were removed as they won a Test for the first time since August. There was no turning back. Earn a lot. Works plenty. Fans love to test cricket again.

Stokes drove to victory in the next Test at Trent Bridge, in front of a packed crowd on Day Five who had taken advantage of the free ticket offer but only after Jonny Bairstow blasted the Black Caps across Nottingham in a post-attack tee. He reached his century with just 77 scoops.

The skipper then had a glimpse of the end of the next two Tests, donning his John Lennon shades on the balcony as Root and Bairstow propelled England to surprise victories over New Zealand at Headingley and India at Edgbaston. The successful pursuit against India, a record 378, was completed in just 76.4 overs. England were four out of four in the first part of the Summer Test.

The second game started with Stokes’ team’s only defeat so far – a first leg against South Africa at Lord’s – but England weren’t too aggressive, the cat was that they were too shy and old weaknesses had crept in. Fans didn’t have to worry. A response, led by Stokes, came as England handed the Proteas a round at Emirates Old Trafford, a week after they suffered one of their own in north London.

The skipper might have been too picky with the racquet earlier this summer trying to figure out the way his team should play, but at the Manchester Test, the day of his documentary on warts and everything on Amazon, Phoenix from the asheswas released, he hit an excellent 103 on 163 balls at perfect pace.

Then a day later, Stokes was the game-breaker with the ball, dismissing South African strikers Keegan Petersen and Rassie van der Dussen in a herculean 14 before the second fresh ball before England won in three days.

Great time Ben again.

Another three-day victory in the final test at The Kia Oval meant a series of wins and a glorious golden summer. But how would Bazball work in December in Pakistan? Very well, as it turns out. England defeated an admittedly exhausted home side 3-0, with the win at Rawalpindi possibly being the best of his nine wins as Stokes captain. On the flattest terrain, his captaincy reached new heights.

After seeing his team hit 500 first on day one of a Test, Stokes’ bold declaration at tea on day four of taking Pakistan to a tempting 343 in four sessions gave his team time to win 10 wickets and he then helped to ensure they got them, delaying the use of the new ball while the old one was reversed and eventually getting it in play before spinner Jack Leach took the final wicket at around 10 minutes on day five.

“I don’t think I’ve seen a better captain’s week,” he said Sky sports cricket Nasser Hussein. “Every decision Stokes made was right. »

Stokes continued to make smart decisions in the next two Tests – imaginative pitches, clever bowling changes – and some incredibly daring ones too – and made his debut at 18 years and 126 days – when England also won in Multan and Karachi.

Stokes’ wise and bold decisions over the past seven months have revolutionized the England Test team. After England endured a nightmarish run of ashes last winter, it could turn into a nightmare for Australia next summer.

Stokes’ year in whiteball cricket, meanwhile, has been one of retirement in the 50-year format and redemption in the 20-plus version.

The 31-year-old left the one-day internationals in July due to an “unsustainable” schedule and said the players are “not just cars you can fill up with”. Stokes’ decision reminds match organizers that perhaps they should play less cricket if they want to see more of the top players.

However, Stokes continues to play T20 cricket and England are eternally grateful to him.

His astute 52 innings without a KO secured victory over Pakistan in the World Cup finals at MCG, three years after his astute 84 innings without a KO proved crucial to defeat New Zealand in that unforgettable 50-win World Cup final at Lord’s to back up.

Great time Ben again.

Stokes, who had guided England past Sri Lanka and into the semi-finals with another unbeaten shot in Australia a week earlier, found himself in tears in a T20 World Cup final six years after his downing. for four straight sixes by West Indies’ Carlos Brathwaite during the 2016 Heartbeat.

It was quite a turning point. But it was the test turnaround he orchestrated that will be remembered of Stokes’ year. That pain from the ashes he and England felt in January now feels like an eternity. From hitting to breaking records, with Stokes as the catalyst.