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Ben Stokes in no-nonsense mode; warns England teammates before Ashes' SCG Test

Soumyajit Dutta

Ben Stokes gives stern warning to England players [Source: @ImTanujSingh/X]Ben Stokes gives stern warning to England players [Source: @ImTanujSingh/X]

With the Ashes already lost, Ben Stokes & Co. enter the final Test in Sydney with the spotlight on potential team changes. The England captain has urged his squad to avoid self-preservation and focus primarily on the collective effort as they aim to conclude the tour with a second consecutive victory.

After trailing 3-1 in a lost Ashes series, Ben Stokes wants his men to think of the team rather than individual milestones. He emphasised a team-first mentality ahead of the Sydney Cricket Ground encounter, for which England have delayed naming their final XI.

Ben Stokes lays down the law before final Test

Ben Stokes gave stern warning to his players ahead of the concluding Test as team gameplay becomes the priority for the visitors now.

"There shouldn't be any reason for anyone to get individual or insular about what they want to do this week. As soon as someone starts thinking about their own performances it becomes quite easy to see through,” Stokes said

“One thing I've managed to get into this group is that everything you do, think, and say is always about what's best for the team and not yourself. Whoever goes out there this week, everything they do and every decision they make will be about what the team needs," Stokes added.

Stokes on SCG pitch and Ashes future

Ben Stokes then reflected on the Sydney Cricket Ground pitch after the much-controversial MCG Test. Stokes humorously acknowledged that guess work in pitch dosen’t really work out well.

"We try to act like we know what we're doing when we look down at the pitch, rubbing it and knocking it. No one really has a clue. You can only try and give yourself the best chance of getting the XI needed to get a chance of winning. We all play a good game by pretending we know what we're doing looking at the wicket," Ben Stokes added.

Stokes unwilling to look too far beyond

Looking beyond the match, Stokes dismissed immediate thoughts of the next Ashes series in 2027.

"That's so far away from where we are right now. We've got a big Test to play here and a big gap until our next series. All that is time for reflection. Right now isn't the time do that," the 34-year-old concluded.

For the unaware, the final and fifth Ashes Test match will be played with a pink theme in support of Glenn McGrath's wife, Jane McGrath Foundation, continuing a beloved Sydney tradition.