Ben Stokes on England's ongoing struggle (Source: @mufaddal_vohra/x.com)
The Ashes is known for its edge-of-the-seat drama, but this time the spotlight has shifted beyond the cricket itself. After three matches in the ongoing series, they are still searching for a win, and another controversy hit the English squad hard.
Facing a tough defeat in the second Test, they went on a break at the coastal town of Noosa, only for certain players’ off-field conduct to grab unwanted headlines. After the ECB confirmed an investigation, English cricket hit a fresh low, but skipper Ben Stokes has vowed to face the storm head-on with courage.
Ben Stokes calls it the toughest phase yet
Over the years, the iconic Ashes has delivered unreal red-ball dramas between Australia and England, but in the ongoing season, it has crossed a different height.
After three consecutive victories, Australia retained the Ashes title, and Ben Stokes and Co. are still searching for their first win in the ongoing series.
Their horrible form already sparked criticism, and the Noosa controversy landed them in new trouble.
During the team’s break in the coastal town, the behaviour of a few players drew unwanted attention, prompting the ECB to launch an investigation. Speaking to the BBC Sport ahead of the Melbourne Test, the English skipper called it his toughest time as England captain.
“This is probably the toughest time right now as an England captain that I'll have. I'm not going to run away from it. I feel like I will lead for the rest of this trip, how I think I can help guys get through it,” Stokes said.
Ben Stokes has walked this road before, having missed the 2017-18 Ashes after the infamous Bristol nightclub incident. Learning from his experience, he said that the main thing is to keep everyone involved.
“I know what it can feel like when everything just piles on top of you. It's hard. My main thing right now as England captain is making sure that everyone's OK,” he added.
Stokes keen to carry on as England captain
Since the England cricket team accepted the ‘Bazzball’ philosophy, England’s Test form decline is worth mentioning, and their Ashes woes continued even in this season.
Three successive, heartbreaking defeats marked a new low in the ongoing series, intensifying scrutiny around Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum. But Sokes desired to continue as England’s captain.
“Everything's easy when it's going well. It's these moments where I guess the responsibility does fall on your shoulders a lot more than it ever has done. I will always do my best on the field. I'll always do my best off the field. I will always, always protect my players, especially in moments like these,” he added.
With a 0-3 humiliation, England will face Australia in the iconic ‘Boxing Day’ Test in Melbourne. With controversy swirling and pride on the line, Ben Stokes and his men will be desperate to silence the noise and script a fighting comeback with a much-needed win.
