1 12 months earlier than England debut, their present Test captain Ben Stokes was supplied with a chance to change into part of residence nation New Zealand’s nationwide staff. The star all-rounder was simply 19 years of age on the time. However, as destiny would have it, stars have been aligned for him to be blessed as England Cricket’s prized-possession.
At the centre of this story was former New Zealand captain Ross Taylor. Playing alongside Stokes for Durham within the 12 months 2010, Taylor appeared to be fairly impressed with Stokes’ expertise with each the bat and ball.
Quite conscious of his roots as a New Zealander as effectively, the legendary Kiwi batter determined to ask him whether or not or not he wished to play for the New Zealand sooner or later. With Stokes exhibiting a eager curiosity on the supply, Taylor didn’t waste a lot time to make the crucial transfer immediately.
Ben Stokes Had Almost Become A New Zealand Cricketer In 2010
As admitted by Taylor in his autobiography titled “Ross Taylor: Black & White” launched final 12 months, the previous Black Caps worldwide reached out to the then NZC (New Zealand Cricket) CEO Justin Vaughan to debate the matter.
Taylor tried to persuade Vaughan that he had noticed a very proficient participant in Durham, and who ought to be offered with a suggestion to change into a part of New Zealand Cricket.
“He was 18 or 19 and very much a Kiwi. Over a Guinness, I asked him if he wanted to come and play in New Zealand. He was keen so I sent a message to New Zealand Cricket CEO Justin Vaughan saying this guy Stokes was a really good young cricketer and interested in playing for New Zealand.”
For these unaware, Stokes was born in New Zealand’s Christchursh in June 1991, and had solely emigrated to England (on the age of 12) together with his household after his father Gerard Stokes landed a job as the top coach at Workington Rugby League Club in West Cumbria.
Why Didn’t NZC Allow Ben Stokes To Play For New Zealand?
Vaughan, nevertheless, insisted that Stokes might very effectively change into a part of New Zealand cricket, however must play home cricket within the nation to start with. However, Taylor was of the view that the board must supply extra to Stokes as he wouldn’t be prepared to begin once more from the underside.
Vaughan, nevertheless, was adamant and never in a temper to supply Stokes with some stable assurance pertaining a safe future in New Zealand.
“Vaughan replied along the lines that he [Stokes] could start playing domestic cricket and we’d see where it went. Ben was sincere about playing for New Zealand, but NZC would’ve had to have acted swiftly and decisively and given him some pretty solid assurances, which Vaughan clearly wasn’t prepared to do.”
As a results of some exceptional performances for Durham in the course of the 2010 season, Stokes was finally picked for England’s Performance Programme, which is the highway to worldwide cricket for promising younger English cricketers. As a consequence, on the age of 20, he made his worldwide debut for England in an ODI match in opposition to Ireland in Dublin the next 12 months.
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