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English cricketer Ben Stokes, who has roots in New Zealand, nominated for New Zealander of the Year award
English cricketer Ben Stokes was born in New Zealand but started off his cricketing career in UK after his father, a rugby player, shifted to England for a coaching stint.
English all-rounder Ben Stokes, who helped his side to the World Cup 2019 crown on Sunday against New Zealand, has been nominated for the New Zealander of the Year award. Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson has also been nominated.
Stokes' match-winning knock of 84 in the final helped England tie the match against New Zealand. In the Super Over, Stokes returned to help his side score 15 runs in one over. The Black Caps needed 16 for a win, but they could manage 15 as well. England won the game as they had hit more boundaries in the game. Stokes was the Player of the Match in the final, as he crashed a million Kiwi hopes, leaving them distraught after a heartbreaking loss.
Stokes was born in New Zealand but his family moved to England when he was 12. His father Gerard played rugby for New Zealand and then took up coaching in England. The cricketer remained in England and started off his cricketing journey even as his parents returned to Christchurch.
His parents were supporting New Zealand in the finals of the World Cup, and though they were proud that their son had helped England to the title, they were rather disappointed that the Kiwis had failed to lift the Cup.
New Zealander of the Year judge Cameron Bennett, on this decision to nomitae Stokes, stated, "he might not have been playing for the Black Caps but, having been born in Christchurch where his parents now live and with Maori ancestry, there's clearly a few Kiwis about who think we can still claim him."
