From the crucial innings in the evening of the World Cup Finals to one of the most excellent modern-day Test innings against Australia at Headingley, England’s Ben Stokes had done something which a cricketer can only wish to do.
And with no surprises, Stokes was rewarded with the Sports Personality of the Year 2019 award at the P&J Live arena in Aberdeen on Sunday night.
This was much more special in a cricketing perspective as Stokes became the first cricketer to win the main Sports Personality of the Year award since Andrew Flintoff in 2005.
The winner of BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2019 is…
🌟 BEN STOKES 🌟https://t.co/Gx41WWvyTa #SPOTY pic.twitter.com/JqIrHwiwR1
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) December 15, 2019
It turned out to be a night to remember for English cricket fans as two other significant awards went to cherish England’s cricket.
The World-Cup winning squad was crowned Team of the Year, and Jos Buttler’s run out of Martin Guptill in the final at Lords was voted the Greatest Sporting Moment of the Year.
The BBC Sports Personality Team of the Year 2019 is…
🌟 England’s Cricket World Cup squad 🌟https://t.co/Gx41WWvyTa #SPOTY pic.twitter.com/2iRrIuwkP4
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) December 15, 2019
The winner of the Greatest Sporting Moment at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2019 is…
🌟 Jos Buttler breaking the stumps to seal World Cup victory for England 🌟https://t.co/Gx41WWvyTa #SPOTY pic.twitter.com/xrz9JhQxa0
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) December 15, 2019
Stokes is only the fifth cricketer in the history of English cricket to achieve this rare feat. Before him, Flintoff, Sir Ian Botham, David Steele, and Jim Laker have grabbed this award.
When the southpaw received the award, he said, “There are so many people to thank when you win something like this. It is an individual award, but I play in a team sport, and the best thing about that is you get to spend special moments with teammates, backroom staff, and management.”
So many people for Ben Stokes to thank.
Your 2019 Sports Personality of the Year winner 🙌https://t.co/jIWb8Yyi45 pic.twitter.com/uUq6yD1QQF
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) December 15, 2019
“I’m up here receiving this award, but I’m not just up here by myself. Without the efforts that you (the team) put in this summer, I wouldn’t be up here. Thank you so much,” added Stokes.
Here’s how current and former cricketers congratulated Ben Stokes:
— Jofra Archer (@JofraArcher) December 15, 2019
BOOM. What a player, what a bloke! Deserves absolutely everything 👏🏼🙌🏼 https://t.co/KSky9uL8gG
— Sam Billings (@sambillings) December 15, 2019
Team Of The Year!!
Couldn’t be prouder of this bunch of lads! It was a honour to be apart of this team! #spoty https://t.co/8diWYry6gK— Jonny Bairstow (@jbairstow21) December 15, 2019
Awesome to see the @englandcricket boys winning team of the year!! Well deserved!! #SPOTY 🔥
— James Taylor (@jamestaylor20) December 15, 2019
This guy is incredible! Nothing more than he deserves! Congrats @benstokes38 !#SPOTY 🏆 pic.twitter.com/N3CnswxPdi
— Chris Woakes (@chriswoakes) December 15, 2019
Yes you beauty @benstokes38. Congrats buddy. #freak
— Samit Patel 🏏 (@Samitpatel21) December 15, 2019
Massive congratulations @benstokes38 on an amazing achievement that is thoroughly deserved. Also huge congrats to @Harv366 for his amazing role in it all as well. #SPOTY19
— Rikki Clarke (@RikkiClarke81) December 15, 2019
BIG Congrats @benstokes38 I’ll tell u a story Sir Gary Sobers said his biggest achievement was beating @MuhammadAli for that @BBCSPOTY in 1966 . #BenStokes
— Tino95 (@tinobest) December 15, 2019
😍🙌🏻🍾🍾 https://t.co/Re0lMQR2bD
— Ollie Pope (@OPope32) December 15, 2019
Well done @benstokes38 ! #SPOTY #legend 👏👏🍾🍾 pic.twitter.com/jrz14cwKyH
— Michael Lumb (@Lumby45) December 15, 2019
Congrats @benstokes38 👏🏼 https://t.co/5JMF9IfGJz
— Heather Knight (@Heatherknight55) December 16, 2019
Well deserved legend! pic.twitter.com/pQ15zZ8klO
— Joe Root (@root66) December 15, 2019
That was one special night #SPOTY
— Jason Roy (@JasonRoy20) December 16, 2019
https://twitter.com/Gilo/status/1206322344324685826
Congratulations @benstokes38 very well deserved mate.
— Tim Bresnan (@timbresnan) December 15, 2019