DM1ST

(^4) DAILY MIRROR TUESDAY 27.08.
EXCLUSIVE: ENGLAND’S ASHES

EYES ON

for helping me get through that.” It has

been some recovery – from being in

court charged with affray, to becoming

Britain’s No1 sporting hero.

Clare must be bursting with pride

that the public has fallen back in love

with the man she never doubted.

The 29-year-old primary school

teacher describes herself as a “cricket

widow and PA to Ben Stokes”.

Friends say she is Ben’s rock and

refused to be bowed by social media

trolls who branded her “a stupid b****”

for staying married “to a thug”.

The couple live in a £1.7million

mansion in Co Durham with their son

Layton, six, and daughter Libby, four.

lost, you can look and you will find me,

time after time.

“If you fall, I will catch you, I will be

waiting, time after time.”

It was Clare’s vow to the father of

her two young children.

And, two years on, it is clear to all

who know them that Ben’s zero-to-

hero journey was only possible

because of Clare’s support.

“I couldn’t have done it myself,” he

said after his man of the match

heroics in the final as England won

the World Cup last month. “Coming

back from all of that was tough.

“I had amazing people around me,

and they’ve got to take a lot of credit

communicative. And that is the thing

for our partners who have to live the

ups and downs with us and cope with

the various stages we’re at.”

His wife has been through a lot with

him. When Ben married Clare

Ratcliffe at a church in Somerset in

2017, it was a month after the brawl

that threatened to end his career.

Ben still had a bandage on the hand

that he used to slip the ring on Clare’s

finger. One of their musical choices

proved particularly poignant.

When a friend began to sing a

version of the couple’s favourite Cyndi

Lauper hit, guests couldn’t fail to miss

the message of the lyrics. “If you’re

When I got home late

the first thing Clare

spotted was the bag

in my hand. She said:

‘Oh, so we’ve been to

McDonald’s have we’

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the

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the

BIG MATCH

VICTORY

Hero Ben

celebrates

the win at

weekend

RISING STAR Representing

England’s under-19s in 2010

DAD With his kids Layton &

Libby amid World Cup glory

BEN Stokes has had non-stop

acclaim for his heroics on Sunday,

but the England cricketer has paid

tribute to the person who keeps

his feet on the ground, wife Clare.

The woman who stood by him

during the worst times, has also been

by his side for the best.

Ben said: “Clare has been brilliant

and so supportive throughout the

years. Your family go through every-

thing with you, good and bad, so it is

great to be able to celebrate with

them at times like this.”

But her first words to her husband

after his phenomenal Ashes feat

weren’t exactly “congratulations”.

Ben said: “I didn’t actually see Clare

until late in the evening when we got

back from the ground. I still had my

training gear on and my England cap.

“First thing she spotted was the bag

in my hand. She said, ‘Oh, so we’ve

been to McDonald’s have we?’.

“It was great to see her and

celebrate with her after such

an amazing day.”

With a mix of excite-

ment and disbelief,

millions were gripped

as Ben’s astonishing

innings of 135 not

out helped England

beat Australia by one

wicket after looking dead

and buried. The thrilling

win was one of the greatest

comebacks in sporting history.

Once the public adoration

has died down a little, 28-year-old

Ben can’t wait to get back to normal

life – and his lawn.

He said: “We’ve got a little break

between the third and fourth Test

which has come along at just the right

time because these games take it out

of you and they come thick and fast.

“Getting home with Clare and the

family whenever I can is so important

to me and now this game is done I just

cannot wait to be back home for five

days and cut the grass.

“I love playing cricket, but you need

to be able to get away from the game

and that is where your home and your

family keep you grounded.”

The all-rounder admitted he was

not in the most sparkling of moods

before his remarkable innings.

He said: “The night before, Clare

and the kids had arrived and they

were excited to be there.

“When Clare’s excited she talks at

10 to the dozen so she was asking me

loads of questions and chatting away.

“I was trying to keep things as quiet

as possible with what might be to

come so I wasn’t exactly the most

TAKEAWAY

Ben had a

McDonald’s

Ben kisses his wife on wedding day

EXCLUSIVE

BY DEAN WILSON

and RACHAEL BLETCHLY