Ben Stokes pays tribute to his late father Ged after hitting his 11th Test century in Barbados
(Picture: Action Images via Reuters)Two looks skyward — the first protracted, the second just a glance — to remember absent mentors while celebrating emotional milestones provided the highlights of a romping, joyful second day here in Barbados for England.
When Ben Stokes pushed into the offside for a single — one of his few sedate strokes — in the afternoon session, he reached his 11th Test century. It was one of his very best, as well as his first for 22 innings, and more importantly, his first since the death of his father, Ged, in December 2020.
Stokes completed the single, dropped his bat and removed his helmet and left glove. In what has become his trademark celebration, Stokes clenched the knuckle of his middle finger — Ged was missing part of this digit — and looked to the heavens.
“It was great,” said Stokes. “In India I got 99 and it was a bit of a dagger in the heart, but it was nice to get there and remember him that way. Of the hundreds I’ve got, personally, that’s probably one of the more memorable, with everything that’s gone on over the last two years. It’s a very special feeling.”
In the final session yesterday against West Indies, Matt Fisher, the surprise debutant, seduced an underedge from John Campbell with just his second ball in Test cricket. Fisher hared off towards the Barmy Army in the Hewitt and Inniss Stand. Among the throng were his family and, on the way, he pointed a finger to the sky in memory of his father Phil, who died when he was 14.
These two looks to the skies are reminders that these players are human — and Stokes and Fisher are not alone in holding such memories.
Taking the catch to complete Fisher’s wicket was Ben Foakes, who lost his father Peter when he was 13. In the middle with Stokes was Jonny Bairstow, whose cricketing father David took his own life when Jonny was eight. In a neat piece of symmetry, Stokes was at the crease with Bairstow as he celebrated his maiden Test century during their stunning stand in Cape Town in 2016.
“He [Bairstow] just said, ‘Take it all in, lad’, in his nice Yorkie accent,” said Stokes.
Also in England’s team for this Second Test are Alex Lees, whose father Simon died in 2011, and Dan Lawrence, who lost his mother Claire while part of the England bubble in 2020. Coincidence? Yes, that all six young men are in the same Test team this week.
Fisher is only playing because of Craig Overton’s illness, but has made a fine start and has already shown himself to be a resilient character. He is partially deaf and has battled multiple injuries since making his Yorkshire debut at 15.
A debut here was “written in the stars”, according to his brother, Mark. He tweeted that this was their father’s favourite place in the world, while Fisher said that he had always hoped to play a Test here because his local cricket came on two tours when he was a youngster, giving him his first taste of playing overseas.
Years later, Mark and their mum have cash to burn on their cricketing holiday: when Matt was 14, they put £100 on him to play for England at odds of 50-1.
But, putting fate aside, it says something of these players’ shared resilience in reaching the top of their profession. It is also a vital reminder of the role each of those parents played in their sporting journey. The cricketing life so often starts at home, and it is not only those wearing the cap making sacrifices.
