Ben Stokes’ mum calls Kiwi radio station to slam hosts for criticising her son

Ben Stokes’ mum calls Kiwi radio station to slam hosts for criticising her son
APRIL 6, 201611:40AM

Jai Bednall
news.com.au
@jaibednall

TWO New Zealand radio hosts have been reprimanded after broadcasting a conversation with the mother of cricketer Ben Stokes despite assuring her it was off air.
Hosts Matt Heath and Jeremy Wells poked fun at the World T20 Final villain on Radio Hauraki on Tuesday morning for being hit for four consecutive sixes in the final over of England’s defeat against the West Indies a week after declaring he revelled in high-pressure situations.

Deborah Stokes — who was a respected cricketer in New Zealand, where her son was born and raised before moving to England — was alerted to the comments by family members and called in to complain.

It’s understood she immediately went to air because the station believed she was calling about an unrelated segment.
But Heath twice told Mrs Stokes she was off air — and continued the conversation despite discovering she was the mother of the English all-rounder.

After learning the conversation had been broadcast, Mrs Stokes called the station back to officially complain about the audio being put to air.
As a result, Radio Hauraki has taken action. “Matt & Jeremy are famous for identifying where the line is and then ignoring it, however putting Ben’s Mum to air without her knowledge, albeit defending her son, was obviously well over that line,” NZME Group Progam Director Mike McClung said in a statement to news.com.au. “They’ve been suitably reprimanded, and are off-air tomorrow.”

The following is a transcript of the conversation.

Deborah: I wanted to speak to somebody off air please.
Matt: You wanted to speak to somebody off air?
Deborah: Yes
Matt: OK. You’re off air.
Deborah: I am?
Matt: Yeah
Deborah: OK, that’s fine. Look, I’m just ringing in regards to the program that’s on air, I think it’s Matt and Jeremy? I just wanted to basically I guess put forward my thoughts in regards to the way they have bagged the English cricketer Ben Stokes this morning.
Matt: Yes
Deborah: When they have never met him, they don’t know him and maybe if they had tempered the inappropriate remarks and name calling with some quotes of some supportive tweets he’s received from some very well-known cricketers and just your ordinary Joe Bloggs cricket supporters, maybe ...
Matt: Could you slow down a bit, I’m writing this complaint down. I’ve got to get it through to Matt and Jeremy. OK cool.

Joe Root and Ben Stokes can’t believe what happened.Source:Getty Images

Deborah: I don’t know whether they realise he was actually born and bred in New Zealand and quite frankly has family all over the country. And for those who listen to your station, for them to sit and listen to their cousin and their grandson being bagged like that is absolutely unconscionable and I’m his mother and I’m totally brassed off.

Matt: You’re brassed off are you?
Deborah: Oh yes I am brassed off.
Matt: Well he’s a great cricket player, he’s amazing.

Deborah: I know he is, but it’s not even about the cricket. It’s about the personal attack on him. They called him arrogant and then they called him some sort of name. They don’t know him! They wouldn’t have a bloomin’ clue!
Matt: I don’t remember them calling him any other words, other than he made some pretty arrogant comments before the game.
Deborah: No he didn’t! It’s a load of rubbish!
Matt: Yes he did.
Deborah: Arrogance isn’t a part of his make up.
Matt: Look, I’m writing it down here to tell Matt and Jerry he’s a great player and that his mum loves him.
Deborah: Are you being smart here?
Matt: No.
Deborah: I just want to get the point across ...
Matt: He’s an amazing cricket player. He’s incredible. He does our country proud and geez we’d love to have him playing for New Zealand. He’s an amazing, amazing cricket player. Incredible.

Deborah: I get that, but what I’m saying is, for my family — and a lot of my family have rung me and said ‘have you heard this, Deb?’ — I’m just really disappointed. Say those things and then temper it with some positives. Have a look on Twitter, see the likes of Kevin Pietersen, Tino Best, Graham Onions — all of those people giving him their support because they know that tomorrow is another day.
Deborah: You’re a lovely woman Debs and thanks for call and we’ll make sure that gets righted on the show. You have a great day.


Just a hiccup, @benstokes38! Happens to all great players who put their hands up under pressure! You are a STAR! Braithwaite take a bow! ??
— Kevin Pietersen (@KP24) April 3, 2016

Anyway gutted for the England boys but well played WI, very good one day side. Also @benstokes38 is an absolute superstar #simples
— Graham Onions (@BunnyOnions) April 3, 2016

U will have ups and downs in this game u have big balls @benstokes38 keep fighting u are a legend in my book ?????? pic.twitter.com/s8FqJIi5uQ
— Tino95 (@tinobest) April 3, 2016


www.news.com.au/sport/cricket/ben-stokes...c586e17e87d322b1798d

I've got a feeling that Stokes is going to have to get used to this sort of ridicule for a lot longer yet, and while it's obviously not right, this sort of banter will happen in any sport if any player ended up doing what he did.

Its all part and parcel of the game, right or wrong. If he'd have smashed the wickets of the batsman instead of him being hit for 6, he'd have been the hero and that's the fine line you have to deal with.

he was bowling long hops and full tosses.