2015.
Stokes was on the headlines of the Newspaper. Sad. He was made to sit out of the World Cup. His exclusion did raise questions but he knew he had to move on. He stayed calm and possibly would have told himself that he once again will be on the headlines as he started preparing for the T20 World Cup.
2016.
Ben Stokes was on the headlines of the Newspaper. He was on the receiving side. A picture of him squatting with hands on his head flashed everywhere. He who should have been the champion couldn’t save himself and England from a disaster. Brathwaite humiliated him with four sixes in the final over. The world fell apart. Should this be classified as a dream come true? He wanted to headline the newspaper, and he did. He wanted to be there once again but not for something like this.
2017.
Ben Stokes was on the headlines of the Newspaper. Things only got worse. He was arrested along with Alex Hales for a nightclub fight. People called him names. He was taken aback. Everyone had their theories which became a nightmare for him. He had to stay calm. He had to live away for a while.
2017.
Ben Stokes was on the headlines of the Newspaper. This time for bullying. A video of him mockingly imitating Harvey Prince. He was called a disgrace for the nation. Stokes did apologize soon. He said what he made was wrong. He said he would support Harvey Prince’s petition.
2018.
Ben Stokes was on the headlines of the Newspaper. This time for returning to the squad. He wasn’t the same man he was once. He was maturing. He was distancing himself and tried to put all his rage into cricket. He wanted to prove himself.
2018.
Ben Stokes was on the headlines of the Newspaper. Ben Stokes found not guilty of the case but was hailed as a hero by two gay men who told the court that they were mocked by the homophobic people and Stokes came to their rescue. An intense three-hour court session changed Stokes’s life. He was free now.
2019.
Ben Stokes was on the headlines of the Newspaper. He just won the World Cup for his team. He stood tall for England, for the fans. He isn’t a disgrace anymore. He is the champion they needed. He is the man who they hate to love but has no other go. The man is a legend. The man just did something that England’s every single cricketer couldn’t do. He won it for them. The Headlines turned to ‘Brat Ben’ turned to ‘Brilliant Ben’. The ‘Disgrace’ turned to ‘Hero’.
2019.
Ben Stokes will be on the headlines of Tomorrow’s Newspaper. He just won an Ashes Test for his team. When others gave up, he refused. He stood tall, once again. He was called the hero and time again, he proved them why. He was called the champion and he did what champions do.
He did not knock the doors to the Ashes but he broke open them for his team.
Stokes and Smith prove that heroes have flaws too. They aren’t perfect. They make mistakes. They fall. They make it difficult for people to love them.
They fall but they know how to get up.
They prove that mistakes make people better.
They prove that passion will change things.
They show how to stand alone when the whole world is against them. They show how it is possible to make a comeback.
They show how you can be a champion despite your flaws.
They show where to put your rage.
They show how things will change in a year.
They show that the sun will shine once again.
They show that people can rise from rock-bottom.
Maybe, that’s why they are an inspiration. Maybe, because we need heroes like them.
