Ben Stokes has hailed those who have helped him become one of the world’s finest cricketers, with his coaches winning The Coaching Chain gong at this year’s UK Coaching Awards.

The coaches behind the rise of Cumbria’s Stokes are Jon Gibson, John Windows, Geoff Cook, Andy Flower and Trevor Bayliss and they all will be recognised at the UK Coaching Awards, which will take place at The Tower Hotel, London, on December 5, alongside Olympic sailing champion Hannah Mills’s coaches.

Stokes’s cricketing journey started at Cockermouth at 13, where Gibson worked with him to develop his batting and bowling.

From there, he developed his technique with Windows and Cook at Durham who put in place the invaluable fundamentals which were the foundations for his later success.

At the beginning of Stokes’s professional career, it was England coach Flower who challenged him to reach his full potential and, from 2015, former England head coach Bayliss worked with him on his mindset, encouraging him to focus on the present instead of dwelling on past performances.

“I’m very proud that my coaches have been honoured with this award from UK Coaching,” said the 28-year-old.

“While athletes take the public accolades for their achievements, there are so many people along the way who don’t always get the recognition they deserve.

"Whether it’s the person who drove me to matches when I was a youngster, or the coach who stayed after practice to throw me a few more balls, this award is for them and everyone else who has supported me throughout my career."

Bayliss said: “It’s always a pleasure to coach an athlete like Ben; someone who is so dedicated to improving their craft and will go the extra mile to become the best.

"It’s testament to his coaching pathway that Ben was already an incredibly talented cricketer when I started working with him for England in 2015 and it has been great to watch him develop into one of the world’s best players.”

“Many congratulations to the coaches of both Ben and Hannah – you’re all hugely deserved winners,” said UK Coaching’s director of coaching Emma Atkins.