Publisher's Synopsis
Put your textbook cricketers, stiff white shirts, and courteous applause aside. This is Ben Stokes, a man as wild as a Yorkshire storm, who approaches the game with the reckless abandon of a gladiator and swings his willow like a lightning rod. This is a journey into the inferno that burns within a cricket player unlike any other; it's not just a biography.
We'll meet the red-haired child from Durham, where cricket was more than just a game-it was a way out of the gloomy shadows of the steel town. We'll witness his unadulterated skill, the smooth strokes that raised rumours of a prodigy, and the boldness that propelled him to take on any obstacle, on or off the pitch.
However, Stokesy's tale is not fanciful. It's a tragic play by Shakespeare with a dash of punk rock attitude. We'll see the collapse, the tabloids shouting about inebriated fights and blown chances. The thoughts of unfulfilled potential and uncertainties that bit into his self-assurance like termites.
However, despite the scandal's lingering ashes, the fire inside of him persisted. We will be present when he emerges from the pyre, enhanced in strength and wisdom, his bat reforged in the crucible of hardship. The World Cup triumph at Lord's, akin to a phoenix emerging from the ashes of hopelessness, sent shockwaves across the cricket community.
However, Stokesy is more than just a daring batsman or a hero of the World Cup. He is a living contradiction, a paradox. The fierce rival who tenderly melts your heart, the naughty youngster with a malicious gleam in his eye who suddenly becomes a national hero. He's the guy next door with the audacity to make a victory dance out of a losing Test match.
We'll explore the intricacies of his relationship with celebrity and the weight of expectation that could stifle his innate talent. We'll talk about his struggles with anxiety, the unseen foe that prowls the shadows and reminds him that even lions have anxiety.
This is a human story, not just an epic about cricket. It's about accepting your shortcomings and weaknesses, being resilient, and finding humour in the midst of adversity. It is about regaining the excitement of the game, not as a chore but rather as a battleground where skill and passion meet in a magnificent display.
Come along with us as we explore Ben Stokes's innermost thoughts, where the ashes of his mistakes and his talent coexist. We'll see the story of redemption-the comeback child who changed the perception of what it takes to be a cricket player. We will applaud his victories, be in awe of his boldness, and cry over his weaknesses.
The gentleman's game is outdated. This is raw, uncensored Stokesy at his most mesmerising. Please turn the page and let the conflagration start. This is the tale of a lionheart who is passionate about cricket and lives, breathes, and longs for it with all of his existence. This is Stokesy: the ashes and fire of a future legend.
