Why we love the devilry in Ben the beast

ROGER ALTON, a fan of English cricket for 60 years, argues that Stokes is worth every penny

W.G. GRACe, it is said, was the second best-known englishman of his time after the Prime Minister, William Gladstone. I am not sure how Ben Stokes would do in a recognition contest with Theresa May (pretty well, probably), but I am certain that if Stokes tried to add to his collection of tattoos in Pune, the Indian provincial city where he has recently been plying his trade, it would have been a national event. In a few short weeks Stokes has become one of the most marketable sportsmen in the world. There were pursed lips and raised eyebrows when the Indian Premier League T20 franchise, Rising Pune Supergiant, bid £1.7million for him. Could a mere cricketer really be worth that for a few weeks’ work? Oh yes, worth every penny it turns out, as Stokes helped to steer Pune to the IPL final with a series of heroic performances, though he had to miss the closing stages of the tournament to join up with england. And if he cost £1.7m a few weeks ago, heaven alone knows what he’s worth after just a couple of seconds’ work last Friday. Delhi Daredevils’ tail-ender Mohammed Shami smashed a would-be six towards longon. But he hadn’t reckoned with Stokes. Fielding right on the boundary, the englishman soared upwards, caught the ball in mid-air, realised his momentum was carrying him over the line, threw the ball vertically upwards and fell back over the boundary. he immediately got up, stepped back on to the field and caught the ball. Wicket! The crowd, and the millions watching on TV, went berserk. We are used to brain-curdling fielding skills in the IPL, but this was something special. As the Indian commentator said: ‘What’s he worth now? £4m? £5m?’ In the same game Stokes struck 33 off 25 balls, took two wickets and smashed the stumps with a direct hit from deep point to run out a Delhi opener. Quite a match, though Pune lost. They are special guys, these box-office heroes, the crowd-pullers, the buccaneers who don’t give a damn. David Gower was probably the most beautiful batsman I have ever seen, but did he stop traffic? Not that I recall. Ian Bell is still stroking some of the most elegant cover drives there have ever been in the game, though would you make a special trip to edgbaston to watch him? But when Ian Botham marched to the crease, the City would grind to a halt as all the traders and brokers rushed to find a TV screen. Kevin Pietersen, of Surrey, england and anywhere that would have him, could start a fight in an empty room. he caused Andrew Strauss to swear live on TV, and that takes some doing. But golly, you wanted to watch him. KP may have been a fourletter man, but his 158 in the second innings of the Ashesclinching draw at The Oval in 2005 was one of the most thrilling Test innings I’ve seen. They need something of the devil, these men, it is what makes them so great. And Stokes, muscled, inked and furious, once broke his wrist smashing up his locker after being dismissed. You wouldn’t want to pick a fight with him. But then ‘W.G.’ wasn’t such a gent either.