HYPERBOLE is anathema to the wise old heads of Durham cricket, but even Geoff Cook and Dale Benkenstein could not hide their excitement when Ben Stokes burst on to the scene.
The Cockermouth-raised all-rounder was still 18 when he was handed a two-year professional contract, although he did already have a notable scalp in his collection, having dismissed Mark Ramprakash with his third ball in senior cricket.
Later that winter he made an Under-19 World Cup century against India. A First-Class debut, in the unlikely surroundings of Abu Dhabi, inevitably followed. He marked the occasion with a half-century.
In May 2011, Benkenstein paid Stokes what for South Africans is just about the ultimate compliment, saying: “He has all the ingredients someone like (Jacques) Kallis had at that age.”
Benkenstein’s comments came hours after a 185 the like of which the Riverside had never seen. Days earlier Cook, wowed by a stunning one-day 150 at Edgbaston, had said: “His talent is undeniable and he will be playing in a full England shirt sooner rather than later. Ben is the best player of his age I have seen.”
Considering the role he played in nurturing the likes of Stephen Harmison and Paul Collingwood from North East club grounds to international arenas, the excitement so unmistakable in the normally reserved Cook was noteworthy in itself.
If it looked like Stokes’ path to cricketing stardom was unstoppable, it has not proved the case.
Injury delayed his England debut – though only by a few months – but his time at the top table was short-lived and he is yet to play Test cricket. His behaviour with England Lions this month means that is suddenly not the inevitability it once seemed.
Stokes was on a tour of Australia designed to give the next generation of internationals a taste of the conditions England’s senior side will face in next winter’s Ashes.
The 21-year-old made little impact on the pitch, but plenty off it. Having failed to heed an earlier written warning, he and team-mate Matt Coles were sent home in disgrace last week after a drinking session. If Stokes is not careful, it could be the end of his international career. Hopefully it will instead be the making of him.
“The incident and the reaction to it is now history,” said Cook. “He’s now got to turn it into a really positive reaction.
“He’s been assured by the ECB people that his future with England is not going to be affected by it, so you’ve got to take them at their word on that.
“He’s got to get heaps of runs this season, and take wickets. The onus is very much on him. Obviously he will get lots of support from the club but it’s happened, and he’s just got to learn from it.”
