World Cup: R Madhavan shocked by irony of Ben Stokes defeating Kiwis, even as Gerard Stokes says he’s the ‘most hated father in New Zealand’

Is it just co-incidence that cricketers, born outside England, tend to achieve stardom when they step out to the field as England players? Nasser Hussain and Kevin Pietersen are among the finest players to have represented England. And even as the team made history on Sunday by lifting their maiden World Cup crown, three players who were most in the thick of the action, were not born in England. Captain Eoin Morgan and Jofra Archer, who bowled the match-winning Super Over, were born in Ireland and Barbados respectively. However, it is the Player of the Match, Ben Stokes’ country of birth, New Zealand, that has come into the spotlight again after his heroics with the bat helped England win the coveted trophy. Even R Madhavan was surprised with the irony as the all-rounder helped beat the country of his origin at Lord’s on Sunday. Meanwhile, the 28-year-old's father Gerard Stokes stated that he’s probably the ‘most hated father in New Zealand’ while adding that he was still a supporter of the Black Caps. 

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After Ben Stokes took England’s chase of 242 into the Super Over with his valiant knock of 84 and helped the team score 15 in 6 balls, which proved to be just enough, Madhavan tweeted, “What an IRONY... Ben Stokes of England was born in New Zealand …" 

Stokes was born in New Zealand and his father Gerard Stokes was a rugby player. The family had moved to England when the cricketer was young when Stokes Sr became the head coach of Workington Town rugby league club. 

After his son’s match-winning effort, Gerard Stokes in an interview was quoted as saying that it was ‘tongue-in-cheek' for some people terming him as the ‘most hated father in New Zealand’, though he hoped it anyway because he was rooting for the Black Caps. 

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Stokes Sr also said that it was a ‘shame’ that Kane Williamson and Co will have to return without the trophy. He stated that he was ‘overjoyed’ for Ben, but still is a New Zealand supporter.