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Ben Stokes unfazed by Ashes defeat; vows to keep leading England in Test cricket

Kaushik Kashyap

Ben Stokes in 3rd Ashes Test. [Source - AFP]Ben Stokes in 3rd Ashes Test. [Source - AFP]

England’s Ashes campaign in Australia suffered a decisive blow with defeat in the third Test at Adelaide, confirming the loss of the series with two matches still to play. Yet amid the disappointment, Ben Stokes has shown no hesitation about continuing as England’s captain, underlining his commitment to the side as a leader.

Stokes ready to lead on despite Ashes heartbreak

This Ashes was supposed to be different for England. Having failed to win a single Test across their previous three tours of Australia, Stokes and his men arrived down under determined to challenge history.

When Stokes took over England’s Test captaincy in 2022, with Brendon McCullum as head coach, their ultimate goal was to transform England’s mindset and performance in all conditions, with winning in Australia as the top priority.

Stokes invested a lot of emotion and energy into this series, but England as a collective have struggled to consistently respond. The result is now very much in front of them and there were multiple moments that captured the toll it took on their captain.

Stokes’ visible frustration after being dismissed by Mitchell Starc in the first innings at Adelaide, throwing his bat in anger, was true picture of how much the series meant to him. Questions were also raised when he did not bowl immediately in the second innings on day three.

With a recent history of multiple injuries, doubts have naturally emerged over whether Stokes can continue to shoulder the dual burden of captaincy and being a frontline all-rounder after the daunting series loss down-under.

However, speaking after the Adelaide Test, the 34-year-old, as quoted by BBC Sport, made it clear that the series loss has not dulled his commitment, insisting he is ready to keep going as England’s Test captain.

“Absolutely,” Stokes said on being asked if he has the same energy to continue as England's Test captain.

While there may be scrutiny around head coach McCullum, Stokes’ influence and leadership within the current Test setup make him unlikely to be moved aside. Importantly, he also said that the remainder of the series still means a great deal to him and his side.

England have not won a Test in Australia for nearly 15 years, and with two matches still to play, Stokes believes he and the team must bring the same intensity, as there is still plenty to play for.