BEN SPEAKS OUT ON HUGE PANIC ATTACKS
Oscar winner Sam’s new documentary
ENGLAND’S Test cricket captain Ben Stokes will discuss his mental health issues, the death of his father and off-the-field troubles in a new documentary.
The all-rounder stars in Amazon Prime Video’s Phoenix from the Ashes, which is being made by top Hollywood director Sam Mendes. A trailer for the film shows Stokes recalling his highs and lows, including panic attacks which nearly made him quit the game in 2021.
Stokes, who was announced as Joe Root’s replacement last month, says: “I never thought I would feel like I do now, my anxiety has gone through the roof. You are sat on the toilet in your hotel room having a massive panic attack.” Stokes, 30, will open up on his World Cup and Headingley heroics as well as some difficult personal issues including his battles with mental health and the death of his father Ged from brain cancer in 2020. Stokes said he wanted to show himself in a different light. He added: “I want to try and get a side across to people that is quite tough to do in the image we give on TV. “Certain aspects in the media you have to come across in a certain way to please a certain amount of people whereas for this I don’t feel I’m having to do that. I still think it’s crazy sat here that there’s a documentary being done about me.
“And then on top of that having Sam come and do the interviews. The whole thing is a crazy experience still for me to think about.”
Mendes, who won an Oscar directing American Beauty and also helmed 1917 and Bond film Skyfall, said it was not a difficult choice.
He explained: “It took me 10 seconds to say yes. There are a lot of mysteries surrounding Ben Stokes, and a lot of questions I wanted to ask. To my amazement, he answered them all.
“I was always a fan of Ben as a cricketer – how can you not be, if you are a lover of sport at the highest level? But now my admiration extends well beyond cricket.” The documentary will also feature interviews with Stokes’ dad Ged and Australian cricketer Shane Warne, who have both died since filming began. Former England captain Root tells the cameras: “Not many people get to see the best side of him. I am very grateful that I have.” Among Stokes’ low points was his arrest after a late-night confrontation in Bristol in September 2017. He went on to miss an Ashes tour before being cleared of a charge of affray.
The documentary will also chart his incredible successes, including his Super Over match-winning performance in the 2019 World Cup final.
■ Ben Stokes: Phoenix from the Ashes will be released later this year on Amazon Prime Video.