Ben Stokes
An explosive all-rounder who delivered England's first Cricket World Cup win with a performance of staggering nerve and power.
Born 1991 (age 35)·English cricketer·Birthday: June 4·Millennials
Biography
Born in Christchurch, New Zealand, Ben Stokes moved to Cumbria as a boy, his cricketing talent forged in the north of England. His career is a narrative of extreme highs and public lows, defined by a combustible blend of fierce competitiveness and match-winning brilliance. Stokes announced himself with a blistering century in Perth, but his path was never smooth; a 2017 street fight led to a suspension, a moment that threatened to derail everything. His redemption arc culminated in the summer of 2019, where his unforgettable, unbeaten 84 in the World Cup final at Lord's, followed by a super over heroics, broke a 44-year drought for England. Appointed Test captain in 2022, he instigated a revolutionary, aggressive brand of cricket dubbed 'Bazball', leading a dramatic turnaround for a struggling side and adding a T20 World Cup title to his legacy. More than just a player, Stokes has become the emotional engine room of English cricket, capable of bending games to his will through sheer force of personality.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Ben was born in 1991, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Ben Was Born
The biggest hits of 1991
#1 Movie
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Best Picture
The Silence of the Lambs
#1 TV Show
Cheers
Ben's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1991Born
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1996Started school
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2004Became a teenager
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Could drive
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2009Could vote
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Turned 21
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2021Turned 30
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 35 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Scored an unbeaten 84 and starred in the super over to secure England's first-ever Cricket World Cup title in 2019.
- Captained England to victory in the 2022 ICC T20 World Cup in Australia.
- Played one of the greatest Test innings of all time, a match-winning 135 not out to clinch the Ashes Test at Headingley in 2019.
- Spearheaded the 'Bazball' revolution as Test captain, transforming England's approach and winning 14 of his first 19 matches in charge.
Did You Know?
He was born in New Zealand and holds a British passport through his English mother.
He was awarded an OBE in the 2020 New Year Honours for services to cricket.
He took a mental health break from cricket in 2021, openly discussing the pressures of the sport.
His father, Ged Stokes, was a New Zealand rugby league international.
“I’ll be there, at the other end, for as long as you want me.”
