Under-25 cricketers from prominent Test nations who could be the next big superstars in world cricket

England – Ben Stokes

Stokes has been the all-rounder that England were looking for since the retirement of Andrew Flintoff

Not quite in the legion of Ian Botham and Andrew Flintoff yet, but in Ben Stokes, England have found a cricketer who thrives under pressure. While those four sixes off him, hit by Carlos Brathwaite in the ICC World T20 2016 final, may take the sheen out of his prowess, it mustn't be forgotten that Stokes has delivered on more occasions than he has failed. 1395 runs and 58 wickets from 24 Tests aren’t surprisingly enchanting numbers, but the manner in which he registered those numbers against his name is the talking point of his career.

A knock of 120 against Australia in Perth, back in 2013, when England were being smacked left, right, and centre during that disastrous Ashes series, had shown the mental abilities that the youngster possessed. A counter-attacking 101 against New Zealand at Lord's last year, especially after England were trailing by 134 runs in the 2nd innings took the visitors by surprise and his three-for in New Zealand’s 2nd innings set up an improbable English victory. To better all of that, on a flaccid surface in Cape Town this year, Stokes marauded the bowlers on his way to a majestic 258 off just 198 balls. The reputation of Stokes, the hitter, took centre stage from thereon.

With the ball, the Durham boy’s maiden five-wicket-haul in Syndey during the last rites of England’s demolition of 2013-14 laid the prelude to an impressive home season the following year, wherein he proved out to be a more than effective backup to James Anderson and Stuart Broad, and his abilities to take wickets from both new as well as the old ball made him even more dangerous. A return five-for (6/36) at Nottingham against the old enemy and that too in an Ashes-clinching cause established Stokes as a permanent member of the new-look English side.