Table of Contents
ToggleBen Stokes is arguably the most popular and loved cricketer in England at the moment. The reason for the same is not very hard to explain. Ben Stokes was the hero for England in their historic World Cup triumph. The allrounder played one of his finest knocks in the World Cup final to help England win the trophy for the first time ever.
Read More: Sonal Chauhan Spills Beans On Her Rumoured Relationship With KL Rahul
He then impressed in the just-concluded Ashes too. His explosive century in Headingley where he single-handedly took England over the line will go down as one of the greatest knocks of all time. No surprises then that Ben Stokes has become the man of the moment in England. However, things could have been very different for the England star had his parents not managed to move on from a horrific incident that took place in their lives even before Ben Stokes was born.
Also Read: Lance Klusener Happy With Navdeep Saini’s Growth As A Fast Bowler
Ben Stokes’ half-brother and sister were shot dead prior to his birth. According to The Sun, Stokes’ mum Deb’s two children Tracey, eight, and Andrew, four, were killed by her ex Richard Dunn in 1988 before Ben’s birth.
The England star has never spoken publicly about the murder of Tracey and Andrew by their dad Richard Dunn. He and Deb had furious rows after they split and he discovered she had taken up with rugby coach Gerard Stokes.
Dunn had weekend custody of the children and shot them both dead before turning the gun on himself in April 1988. Three years later, a distraught Deb gave birth to Stokes.
“Ben was born at a time of terrible tragedy. Deb was enduring every parents’ worst possible nightmare and his arrival gave her something to live for,” a source told the news outlet.
“It’s incredible that he’s achieved so much as a cricketer and made her so proud,” the source added.
The report further claimed that Stokes’ birth helped Deb move on from the tragedy. Stokes’ mother is cricket made and has followed her son’s career every step of the way as he moved from amateur side Cockermouth to Durham and then to England.