Ben Stokes Family Tree: The Story Behind England's Test Captain

Benjamin Andrew Stokes OBE, born 4 June 1991 in Christchurch, New Zealand, is England Test captain (from April 2022) — pivotal to England's 2019 ODI World Cup win (84 not out in the final super over); 2022 T20 World Cup champion; 6 Test centuries.

The Family's Roots: A New Zealand-English Rugby Family

The Stokes family is New Zealand by birth with deep rugby roots; emigrated to Cumbria, England when Ben was 12 (2003).

His Parents

Father: Gerard "Ged" Stokes (1955–2020) — New Zealand rugby league player and coach (Workington Town); died of brain cancer December 2020; the most-influential figure in Ben's life.

Mother: Deb Stokes — homemaker.

His Brother

James "Jim" Stokes — Ben's elder brother.

His Wife: Clare Ratcliffe

Clare Ratcliffe Stokes — Englishwoman; childhood sweetheart in Cumbria; married Ben in October 2017.

Their Children

Layton Stokes, born 2014 — son.

Libby Stokes, born 2016 — daughter.

The Stokes Family Tree at a Glance

Family Origins: New Zealand; emigrated to Cumbria 2003.

Father: Ged Stokes (1955–2020) — NZ rugby league player/coach; died of brain cancer.

Mother: Deb Stokes.

Brother: James Stokes.

Wife: Clare Ratcliffe (m. October 2017).

Children: Layton (b. 2014); Libby (b. 2016).

Ben Stokes:

  • Born 4 June 1991, Christchurch, New Zealand
  • Moved to Cockermouth, Cumbria at age 12 (2003) after his father took the Workington Town head coach job
  • Cockermouth School; Durham CCC debut: 2010
  • England debut: ODI 25 August 2011; Test 5 December 2013
  • 2019 ODI World Cup: 84 not out in the final at Lord's, including the famous super-over deciding the title vs New Zealand
  • 2019 Headingley Ashes Test: 135 not out chasing 359 — widely considered the greatest Test innings by an Englishman
  • England Test captain: from April 2022 under the "Bazball" era with coach Brendon McCullum
  • 2022 T20 World Cup: champion (England)
  • OBE: 2020

What the Stokes Family Story Teaches Us

A New Zealand rugby-league coach father lost to brain cancer in 2020. A homemaker mother. An elder brother. A childhood-sweetheart wife from Cumbria. Two children. A career that produced two of the great moments in modern English cricket (2019 Headingley and 2019 World Cup Final).

For every family — large or small, famous or otherwise — the Ben Stokes story carries the same lesson. A father's coaching move can determine a child's future country. Ged's 2003 move from New Zealand to coach Workington Town is on the Stokes family record alongside every England Test captaincy decision. Write down which parental career moves shaped which children's lives.

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