Ben Stokes to Honor Late Father with custom Shoes During 2025-26 Ashes series
Brisbane, Australia – England captain Ben Stokes will carry a poignant tribute to his late father, Ged, onto the field during the 2025-26 Ashes series in Australia. Stokes will wear bespoke Adidas shoes designed in collaboration with fine artist Jordan Dawson, featuring symbols deeply connected to his father’s life and legacy.
The custom footwear represents a deeply personal memorial for Stokes, whose father passed away from brain cancer in December 2020. The designs aim to provide inspiration during a crucial series, and offer a visible connection to a man who profoundly impacted his life and career. The upcoming Ashes series is expected to be fiercely contested, and Stokes hopes the shoes will serve as a source of strength throughout the tour.
Central to the shoe’s design is a phoenix motif, mirroring a prominent tattoo Stokes already has on his arm. “I’ve got a phoenix as a big part of the tattoo on my right arm,so it was something I was keen to include in the design,” Stokes said. “I’ve had a long career in sport and the phoenix has come to signify my belief that whenever you’re down, you can rise again.” The phoenix, symbolizing rebirth and resilience, also inspired the title of Stokes’ 2022 Amazon Prime documentary, ‘Ben Stokes: Phoenix from the Ashes.’
Beyond the phoenix,the shoes also incorporate an illustration of Stokes’ signature celebratory hand gesture. This gesture is a direct tribute to his father, Ged Stokes, a former New Zealand rugby league international who had a finger amputated during his playing career. “I think everyone knows the story of my Dad injuring his finger playing rugby and having it removed but since he passed away, the hand gesture is a festivity I’ve done in memory of him,” Stokes explained. “It’s been a rewarding process working with Adidas and Jordan to bring it all together and hopefully it can give me some extra inspiration on the pitch too.”
