ICC Awards 2022: Ben Stokes Announced ICC Test Cricketer Of The Year

ICC Awards 2022: Ben Stokes made an impact both with the bat and ball also leaving a mark as England's Test captain.

Stokes had a win percentage of 90 as a captain since taking over the position full-time in 2022

England captain Ben Stokes has been announced as the ICC Test Cricketer of the year for 2022. The star all-rounder made an impact both with the bat and ball as he not only scored 870 runs at an average of 36.25 but also chipped in with 26 wickets, averaging 31.19.

While the numbers to tell a story, it fails to capture the kind of impact Stokes had on Test cricket in the calendar year. With him taking over the reins of England Test captaincy from Joe Root and forming a new leadership with head coach Brendon McCullum, the two played pivotal roles in the way England went about their Test cricket in the year gone by.

While Stokes has captained England in as many as 10 Test matches after he was appointed as the full-time skipper, England have gone on to win 9 of these. Not only did Stokes led England went on to win complete series wins over New Zealand and South Africa at home but they also beat India in the one-off postponed Test match which helped them level the series 2-2.

They then registered a 3-0 clean sweep over Pakistan in their first tour of the country in 17 years. This was a complete turn around for a team which had managed to win just one of their last 17 Test matches. 

Stokes Also Named Captain Of ICC Test XI Of 2022

The 31-year-old was earlier named the captain of the ICC Test XI of 2022. His 870 runs with the bat included two Test match hundreds while his runs came at an aggressive strike rate of 71.21, which have been instrumental in England going for a win rather than trying to save a Test.

Perhaps his best with the bat in 2022 was his first-innings century against South Africa in the second Test. His knock came after their only Test defeat of the year and laid the foundation of an England comeback. Interestingly, Stokes also scalped 4 wickets in that Test eventually finishing the series with 10 wickets to his credit, averaging 15.70 with the ball in hand.