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James Anderson tears into Ben Stokes’ Brydon Carse praise after 1-4 Ashes drubbing

Aakash Saini

James Anderson and Ben Stokes [Source: @JohnyBravo183, @HomeOfCricket/x]James Anderson and Ben Stokes [Source: @JohnyBravo183, @HomeOfCricket/x]

Former England fast bowler and Ashes great James Anderson has launched a scathing attack on current national skipper and ex-teammate Ben Stokes. Anderson’s comments occurred in the aftermath of Ben Stokes’ praise for fast bowlers Josh Tongue and Brydon Carse after England’s humiliating 1-4 Ashes drubbing in Australia.

The legendary England paceman also praised ‘Player of the Series’ Mitchell Starc for picking up 31 wickets across five Tests and for anchoring Australia’s Ashes retention.

James Anderson takes offense to Ben Stokes’ ‘effort praise’

While speaking on BBC Radio, England great James Anderson slammed current Test skipper Ben Stokes after the latter praised his fast bowlers Josh Tongue and Brydon Carse for their “efforts”, despite losing the five-match Ashes series 1-4.

Anderson said, “When I saw Stokes come out and say, the way Josh Tongue and Brydon Carse have just run in like consistently, I had a Roy Keane moment. I was like, that’s your job. If you’re not willing to run in all day for your team, don’t bother. You’re in the wrong sport.”

Compatible to Ben Stokes’ ‘effort praise’, Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue did end up becoming England’s most successful bowlers of the 2025-26 Ashes series with 22 and 18 wickets respectively.

James Anderson heaps praise on Mitchell Starc

James Anderson also praised Australian pace spearhead Mitchell Starc for picking up 31 wickets across five Tests and bagging the ‘Player of the Series’ award.

He added, “Starc, for me, was the absolute standout of the series. He bowled on Day 5 of the final Test as quick as he had bowled all series long. He was consistent with his speeds. But that is what you expect from all your bowlers. That is the standard. It always annoys me (when someone says) ‘can’t fault your efforts’. Well, the effort shouldn’t be a thing. It should just be in you.”

Mitchell Starc also scored gritty match-winning half-centuries in the second and third Test of the 2025-26 Ashes series to aggregate 156 runs overall.