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“England’s Cocky Captain Complainer…”: Australian media takes Ashes swipe at Ben Stokes

Aakash Saini

Ben Stokes [Source: @theboysthing07/x, West Australian]Ben Stokes [Source: @theboysthing07/x, West Australian]

England captain Ben Stokes is among the latest arrivals in Australia ahead of the 2025-26 Ashes Test series. A photo of the legendary English all-rounder from outside the airport has been making rounds across Australian newspapers and publications as both teams gear up for what promises to be an exhilarating battle between bat and ball.

For Australia, the mind games seem to have already begun. While several former cricketers like David Warner and Glenn McGrath have issued bold predictions about the upcoming series, a certain local daily has taken the most brutal jab, doing so at an expense of the visiting skipper.

Australian newspaper mocks Ben Stokes, recall ‘Crease-gate’

Australian daily, ‘The West Australian’ mockingly dubbed all-rounder Ben Stokes as “England’s Cocky Captain Complainer” on the front page of their latest headline. The newspaper also recalled the infamous ‘crease-gate’ from the 2023 Ashes series in England, when a casual Jonny Bairstow was out stumped by Australian keeper Alex Carey.

The controversial dismissal drew widespread outrage across England, with several former players and fans condemning the act as unsporting, a sentiment even echoed by then captain Ben Stokes.

With Stokes touching ‘Down Under’ with an intent of bringing his result-oriented ‘BazBall’ approach to Australian shores, Australia’s ‘The West Australian’ shared a picture of the cricketer from the airport, and wrote:

“England’s Cocky Captain Complainer, still smarting from crease-gate, lands in Perth early thinking dopey ‘BazBall’ can take the Ashes.”

Notably, this is not the first instance in which an Australian news publication has taken potshots at the visiting English team. Back in 2013, the Brisbane Courier Mail refused to mention the name of legendary England fast bowler Stuart Broad for his refusal to walk after a clear edge back in the Ashes earlier that year.

Nonetheless, the 2025-26 Ashes Test series will launch from November 21 onwards at the Optus Stadium in Perth. The series will also constitute a part of the 2025-27 WTC cycle.