Ben Stokes becoming injured at the start of the 2010 season meant that Stokes continued playing in all forms of the game for Durham. Having had a very successful debut season in first-class cricket he was given a place in the England Performance Programme and travelled to Australia during the 2010–11 Ashes. On 2 January 2015, Stokes joined the Melbourne Renegades of Australia's Big Bash League for the remainder of the season as a replacement for Jesse Ryder, who was ruled out through injury. On 13 February 2017, Stokes was appointed vice-captain of England's test team, deputising under Joe Root, who was
Ben Stokes was later named player of the match. In the second Test, Stokes was less prolific. After taking figures of 1–70 in New Zealand's first innings, he was then dismissed for just six. He was wicketless in New Zealand's second innings and could only manage 29 with the bat as England lost the Test to draw the series 1–1. In the first ODI against New Zealand Stokes made ten with the bat and took figures of 0–28 as England secured an emphatic win. He took 2–66 in the next game, and followed this up by scoring 68 and taking figures of