Image: Ben Stokes delivered an iconic performance at at Lord’s / © Fox Sports
England has always produced world-class all-rounders, from Ian Botham to Andrew Flintoff, and now Ben Stokes, who leads the current generation with his match-winning skills in both batting and bowling. Stokes has been the heartbeat of England in big games, whether it was the 2019 ODI World Cup final, the unforgettable Ashes series the same year, or the recent Test series against India in 2025. One date that seems to bring out the best in him is 14th July. Fans have now started calling it “Ben Stokes Day” because of his unbelievable performances on this date at Lord’s Cricket Ground. It all began on 14th July 2019, when England faced New Zealand in the World Cup final.
Stokes played a heroic knock of 84 not out off 98 balls, helping England tie the match and then scoring again in the Super Over to seal their first-ever ODI World Cup title. He was rightly awarded the Player of the Match. Exactly six years later, on 14th July 2025, Stokes once again rose to the occasion, this time in a Test match against India. Chasing a tricky target, India looked set, but Stokes turned the game with 3 crucial wickets on the final day and ended with a match haul of 5 wickets and 77 runs overall. Once again, he took home the Player of the Match award. Two different formats. Same date. Same ground. One unforgettable player, Ben Stokes.
The Lord’s Cricket Ground on July 14, 2019, was packed with fans buzzing for the ICC Cricket World Cup final between England and New Zealand. What happened next was pure magic, a match so thrilling it ended in a tie, then a tied Super Over, with England snatching their first-ever World Cup title because they hit more boundaries, 26 to New Zealand’s 17. Ben Stokes was the heartbeat of it all, playing a knock for the ages and chipping in with the ball to deliver a win that cricket fans will talk about forever.
New Zealand won the toss and chose to bat, putting up 241 for 8 in their 50 overs. Henry Nicholls led the way with a gritty 55, Tom Latham added a solid 47, and captain Kane Williamson scored a steady 30. England’s bowlers kept things tight. Chris Woakes and Liam Plunkett each grabbed three wickets, while Stokes bowled three really good overs, giving away just 20 runs. He didn’t get a wicket, but his tight bowling stopped New Zealand from building a huge total, setting England up for a chase they could handle.
England’s chase of 242 started badly. Jason Roy got 17, Jonny Bairstow made 36, and Joe Root fell for just 7, leaving England in a hole at 86 for 4 after 23 overs. The crowd was on edge, but Stokes stepped up with an unbelievable 84 not out off 98 balls, smacking five fours and two sixes. His innings were all about staying cool when things got tough. In the 26th over, he had a scare when a bouncer from Colin de Grandhomme almost caught his bat’s edge. Stokes didn’t flinch, settling in and building his score with care.
He found a perfect partner in Jos Buttler, who scored a quick 59 off 60 balls. Together, they put on 110 runs for the fifth wicket, turning the game around. Stokes was clever, picking up singles and doubles to keep things moving, but he also went big when he needed to. In the 22nd over, he flicked a boundary through square leg off de Grandhomme with a wristy shot. In the 38th over, he pulled a four off Lockie Ferguson with a sharp swivel. When the chase got tight, Stokes smashed a massive six off Trent Boult in the 49th over, launching a slog-sweep over midwicket that had the crowd roaring.
The final over was absolute chaos. England needed 15 runs, and Stokes faced Boult’s pinpoint bowling. Then came a crazy moment: a throw from the field hit Stokes’ bat as he dove for the crease, racing away for four extra runs, adding six in total. Stokes later apologised to Williamson for the fluke, showing what a good guy he is. Even after Adil Rashid and Mark Wood got run out, Stokes kept his head, tying the scores at 241 and forcing a Super Over. Running on fumes, he went out with Buttler and scored 8 runs, including a smart four with a wristy sweep.
England posted 15 for 0, and though New Zealand matched it, they lost a wicket. England’s extra boundaries sealed the deal. Stokes’ 84 not out earned him the Player of the Match award, and you couldn’t argue with that. Captain Eoin Morgan said Stokes was the rock that kept everyone calm, and Stokes talked about the four-year grind to reach this moment. New Zealand, with Williamson’s 578 runs earning him Player of the Series, gave it everything but fell just short in a game that came down to the tiniest margins.
Coming to July from 10 to 14, 2025, and Stokes was back at Lord’s, leading England to a nail-biting 22-run win over India in the 3rd Test. His batting, bowling, and captaincy were the difference, putting England 2-1 up in the series. Stokes was a one-man army, earning the Player of the Match award and proving he’s the guy you want when the stakes are high. In England’s first innings, Stokes scored 44 off 110 balls, hitting four clean boundaries. He came in at 172 for 4 and dug in, batting with Joe Root, who made a classy 104.
Stokes stood tall against India’s tough bowlers, especially Jasprit Bumrah, who eventually got him. His knock helped England post 387, a strong total. In the second innings, on a tricky pitch, Stokes made 33 off 96 balls, with three fours. Coming in at 87 for 4, he stayed patient, partnering with Root (40) to get England to 192, setting India a target of 193. Facing Washington Sundar’s spin, Stokes kept his cool, making sure England stayed in the fight.
But it was Stokes’ bowling on Day 5 that stole the show. India started the day at 58 for 4, chasing 193, with KL Rahul (39) and Ravindra Jadeja at the crease. As captain, Stokes led the way, bowling 24 overs and taking 3 wickets for 48 runs. In the 23rd over, he got Rahul out lbw for 39 after a clever review, a huge moment that rocked India’s hopes. His bowling was spot-on, with just enough movement to catch Rahul out. Earlier, in the 17th over, he bowled Akash Deep for 1 with a ball that zipped back, leaving India at 58 for 4.
Stokes kept the pressure on, using the pitch’s uneven bounce to make life tough for India’s batsmen. His last wicket was Bumrah (5), caught by substitute Sam Cook in the 61st over, breaking a stubborn partnership. Stokes’ bowling was all about heart and brains, mixing pace and bounce while keeping his economy at 2.00. He targeted Jadeja, who fought hard with an unbeaten 61 off 181 balls, with tight bowling that stopped him from taking over. With Jofra Archer (3 for 55) and Brydon Carse (2 for 30) backing him up, Stokes’ bowling was the key to England’s defence.
His leadership was top-notch, with smart field placements and constant encouragement for his team. When Shoaib Bashir got Mohammed Siraj (4) in the 74th over, India were all out for 170, 22 runs short. Stokes’ 77 runs and 5 wickets (2 for 63 in India’s first innings, 3 for 48 in the second) were what won it. His batting in the first innings gave England a foundation, and his second-innings knock set a tough target. On Day 5, his bowling broke India’s fight, with every wicket swinging the game England’s way. His knack for swinging the ball and grinding out long spells was the difference.