Stokes, 22, helped Durham win the County Championship for the third time in six years by scoring 615 runs in 13 matches with a best of 127 against title rivals Yorkshire at Scarborough and took 42 wickets at 26.57 with his lively right-arm fast-medium bowling.
The son of former New Zealand rugby league international Ged Stokes, he also impressed at England level, taking a one-day international career best five for 61 in the final match of the recent series against Australia at Southampton.
He will now look to add to a tally of 2,258 Test caps and 1,781 limited overs international caps, not including Stokes' own, won by previous Young Cricketers of the Year, an award now in its 64th year and open to England-qualified players under the age of 23 on May 1, which is voted for by the Full Members of the Cricket Writers' Club.
(AFP)