To be the star of two shows at the same time, you need an all-round player.
It was certain that the release of his documentary would coincide with his first century as England captain.
The center of attention is in two places at the same time.
Who wrote your script? Ian Botham was once asked if he was an England action hero.
The person doesn't follow a plan. He is calling the shots with the way he plays and how he is shaping the England team.
Before he was given the task of fixing the broken Test team, he had already secured his place in English cricketing folklore.
The early days of his captaincy show that leadership will add to the legacy. A lost outfit has been given a new identity. He has talked about saving the game.
In the first part of the summer, the batting method was to hit, hit, hit. The idea was noble and he wanted to show his team that he was willing to take on the challenge.
There was a negative aspect to it. Although England were winning, they didn't see the best of the batter, who was sacrificing the best chance of personal success in order to make a statement to his colleagues, opponents and the world.
On the second day of the second Test against South Africa, there was a supreme display of batting that mixed careful defence and sound judgement with the showmanship of three mighty sixes - one landing on the England balcony.
It wasn't the superhero, but the master craftsman, and it came at the end of a week when he was bravest to reveal himself.
When he thought his career was over, he was honest about his mental health struggles in the hope that it would make someone else feel better. He is taking medication.
The 22 yards of dirt in the middle of a stadium-sized theatre is where the real stage is. There is a viewing gallery stretching out into Stretford.
On a warm Friday morning, the Test was on the verge of being called off. Anrich Nortje was throwing a ball. England was four runs behind at that point.
On another day, he would have been able to counter punch by sprinting down the pitch. The patient building of an inn was similar to the one he created at Headingley.
The first 42 runs came from 98 deliveries.
Ben Foakes had a sidekick who was reliable, willing and skillful. The match was turned in England's favor by a hundred and a sixth-century stand.
There was a lot of drama. It was a problem with the left knee when he had 16. It was holding its breath. It's going to lock for the last time one day. A dropped catch and a cliff-hanger of a tea interval on 98 not out had to be overturned.
The 100th run was taken off Kagiso Rabada in order to honor his late father. When he reached three figures for the first time as captain, he let his attacking instinct take over, but he ended up holing out to the side.
How they will evolve over time has always fascinated the people who watch England under captain Ben Stokes.
For all the talk of 'Bazball' and the thrill of freewheeling run-chases, it remains a reality that England will have to distil their aggression into a style that will work in all circumstances.
The reign as captain has started with him throwing the bat and bowling back-breaking spells with the ball. Both are unsustainable.
He will only be able to explain why he produced his most responsible, orthodox and stylish outing of the summer.
It could have been a response to the situation. It may have been the quality possessed by the very best that made them rise to the occasion.
As Foakes reached his own century, the captain wore sunglasses that could belong to a rock star, as he beamed on the boundary.
He stopped at the foot of the stairs leading to the dressing room to sign autographs for a group of children.
All-round star.
The show is more than one.
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