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 for the most runs scored by an individual batsman in the morning session of a Test match. Stokes became the highest-paid overseas player in the history of the Indian Premier League in 2017, fetching a record contract of (£1.7 million). Stokes is the son of rugby league player and coach Gerard Stokes. He moved to England at a young age after his father was appointed head coach of Workington Town rugby league club, and grew up in the small West Cumbrian town of Cockermouth, playing cricket for Cockermouth Cricket Club; he won the North Lancashire & Cumbria Cricket League Premier