Ben Stokes hailed as 'the king' in Aiden Markram's Kallis debate verdict

South Africa’s captain Aiden Markram has settled the long-running debate over cricket’s greatest all-rounders by naming **Ben Stokes** as the rightful king of the modern game.

The endorsement came after Stokes starred for England in the first Test against Australia at Lord’s on 21 Jul 2026, finishing with 87 runs and three wickets in a match-winning display.

What did Markram say?

Markram, speaking to reporters after the match, said: “Ben Stokes is the king. He does it all-bats, bowls, fields, leads. No one else comes close right now.”

The South African skipper added that Stokes’s ability to dominate with both bat and ball under pressure made him the clear pick over legends like Jacques Kallis.

Why the debate matters for Stokes

The Kallis vs Stokes debate has simmered for years, with Kallis’s record of 10,000 runs and 292 wickets in 166 Tests often cited as untouchable.

Stokes, 35, has already claimed 284 wickets and 7,800 runs in 98 Tests-but his recent form has pushed him into the conversation. His Lord’s heroics, including a crucial 87 off 112 balls, sealed England’s 47-run win.

How Stokes stacks up against Kallis

Kallis averaged 55.37 with the bat and 32.65 with the ball across formats. Stokes’s averages sit at 36.98 and 27.90, but his strike rates-especially with the ball (54.20 in Tests)-are elite.

Markram’s praise isn’t isolated. Former greats like Ricky Ponting and Kumar Sangakkara have also tipped Stokes to surpass Kallis if he keeps this up.

What’s next for Stokes?

England’s summer continues with the second Test at Edgbaston on 30 Jul 2026. Stokes, now 35, will look to build on his Lord’s masterclass.

A strong series could see him close the gap on Kallis’s records before the Ashes decider in August. His fitness and workload will be key-he bowled 28 overs at Lord’s, a heavy load for a man pushing 36.

Markram’s words add fuel to the debate. For Stokes, every run and wicket now carries extra weight as the cricket world watches.