Is Ben Stokes the best cricketer ever in the whole world?

[OverratedSanity]

Late 90s/early 2000s was better. The South African allrounders Kallis, Klusenar, Mcmillan and Pollock, Flintoff and Gilchrist. Akram, Vaas, Cairns, Hooper, Razzaq etc. were decent as well.

Klusener wasn't a particularly amazing test all rounder and MacMillan didn't exactly overlap with flintoff much so it's weird to throw them in together. Not fair to throw in Gilchrist either.

 

[OverratedSanity]

It is just the euphoria of this innings speaking. Shakib is still number one for me ahead of Stokes. But it is daylight after these two. Sir Jaddu, Holder and Lord Colin come a distant third.

Holder has been fantastic recently.

 

[cnerd123]

I fanboy for Shakib so hard but if I had to pick a cricketer to play for my life it would be Stokes

The man has immense will and balls of steel.

 

[Spark]

That switch hit for six was quite possibly the most ballsy shot I’ve ever seen. Utterly insane in the situation.

 

[CricAddict]

Klusener wasn't a particularly amazing test all rounder and MacMillan didn't exactly overlap with flintoff much so it's weird to throw them in together. Not fair to throw in Gilchrist either.

Yeah agreed. Just went by my childhood memories which had both of them playing. But like TJB said, apart from Shakib and Stokes and to an extent Holder and Jaddu, there are no other good allrounders right now while I remember there were quite a few during those days.

 

[CricAddict]

I fanboy for Shakib so hard but if I had to pick a cricketer to play for my life it would be Stokes

The man has immense will and balls of steel.

I agree on this as well. Stokes is of the Lara, Laxman mould rising up to the occasion when the situation demands, while Shakib has been slightly more consistent in a weaker team.

 

[Adders]

That switch hit for six was quite possibly the most ballsy shot I’ve ever seen. Utterly insane in the situation.

Im wondering what we'd all be saying today if he'd top edged that and skied it Paine. He would have been absolutely crucified for playing such a shot in the circumstances, but as it is he is a hero to a nation........funny old game innit.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Klusener wasn't a particularly amazing test all rounder and MacMillan didn't exactly overlap with flintoff much so it's weird to throw them in together. Not fair to throw in Gilchrist either.

I agree and struggle to call Akram, Vaas and Hooper allrounders at test level. You forgot Oram also.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

So De Grandhomme averages 40 with the bat and 30 with the ball and he's still not rated?!

 

[Spark]

Im wondering what we'd all be saying today if he'd top edged that and skied it Paine. He would have been absolutely crucified for playing such a shot in the circumstances, but as it is he is a hero to a nation........funny old game innit.

Eh idk. At that stage England were far away enough that most people would have accepted a fairly inevitable-looking loss, and acknowledged that Stokes had to really go for it at that stage.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Im wondering what we'd all be saying today if he'd top edged that and skied it Paine. He would have been absolutely crucified for playing such a shot in the circumstances, but as it is he is a hero to a nation........funny old game innit.

Maybe if he did it with 1 or 2 to win. I don't think he'd have been cast as a villain or even negatively at all after the game he had. Single-handedly kept England in it with the ball as well. Incredible match.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

CDG is a weird one to throw in there too, hard to imagine he'd even make most international teams

Apart from India which other teams wouldn't he make?

 

[Adders]

Eh idk. At that stage England were far away enough that most people would have accepted a fairly inevitable-looking loss, and acknowledged that Stokes had to really go for it at that stage.

Maybe if he did it with 1 or 2 to win. I don't think he'd have been cast as a villain or even negatively at all after the game he had. Single-handedly kept England in it with the ball as well. Incredible match.

Don't think for a second I'm knocking him or his approach to the run chase.............he played the perfect innings. Right now I'd have his babies so no way am I taking the shine off anything.

I was just pondering the fine margins in this game we love, that switch hit brought the total within 50, so maybe you're both right (well Spark at least, Brah could never be right)

 

[Uppercut]

In case anyone missed it at the time the Jonathan Liew piece on Stokes from the eve of the Ashes is spectacular. https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cricket/the-ashes-2019-england-vs-australia-ben-stokes-jonathan-liew-a9028126.html

Almost feels like it's missing a chapter now.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

The shot he played with two needed was a poor one in isolation, but it would be a bit churlish to criticise him.

 

[cnerd123]

Apart from India which other teams wouldn't he make?

would bat 3 for both sides in the Ashes atm tbh

 

[Tom Flint]

Holder and jadega in the last 2 years are definitely genuine all rounders.

 

[Tom Flint]

A complete guess but has holder scored more runs than stokes or Shakid in the last couple years? He made a double ton after all

 

[Tom Flint]

Shakib?

 

[MW1304]

The edit button is a thing you know.