Ben Stokes urges England to unleash their inner grit in Adelaide to keep the Ashes dream alive
Ben Stokes has pressed England to channel a fierce, battling spirit—reminiscent of the intensity shown against India in the summer—and to unleash a bit of “dog” in their game as they seek to salvage their dwindling Ashes prospects in Adelaide.
After England slipped to a 2-0 deficit in Brisbane, Stokes didn’t back away from painting Australia as a place where weakness is unwelcome, and he made clear that the same standard must apply to his own side under his leadership. As the third Test approaches, his direct stance appears to be more than a momentary aside.
What began as a message shared with the squad during their Noosa mid-series break has since been reinforced privately. Stokes has also reminded the players of the heated, extended exchange with India at Lord’s in July, which sparked a flurry of verbal exchanges and ultimately a 22-run victory for England that day.
Asked if that blunt message about showing strength had been reiterated this week, Stokes responded with a firm, hopeful tone: “What needed to be said has been said. Everyone is very switched on for what needs to be done this week. Everyone has responded incredibly well to it … what other option do we have?”
He added: “It’s about fighting in every situation, understanding the moment, and knowing what’s required. And yeah, just look at your opposition every single time and show a bit of dog. That, to me, is fight.”
Stokes pointed to the Lord’s performance as a blueprint: a moment when the entire team lifted, delivering a display that demanded near-perfection to win. “That attitude and mentality in that scenario gave us the best chance of winning,” he said.
England have made one change for the next game, bringing in Josh Tongue for Gus Atkinson to add pace in the attack. Shoaib Bashir remains overlooked in favor of Will Jacks, whom Stokes had previously named his first-choice spinner, despite Bashir’s continued omission.
Among the 12 England players used in this series, only five had prior experience in Australia. When asked whether the current intensity—or the hostile crowds in Perth and Brisbane—might explain any perceived lack of fight, Stokes conceded, “Honestly, I think so.”
Reflecting on his own first tour Down Under, he noted that the reality of the environment often defies early expectations. “You try to imagine what it will be like, and you hear people talk. But when it comes, it’s ‘wow.’ Now I feel everyone has experienced that, probably at its highest level, so we all know what it’s going to be like.”
Stokes also acknowledged the emotional toll on supporters and offered a candid message to them: while frustration is understandable after two poor results, the team’s mood is not deflated. “There are no deflated feelings whatsoever in this team right now,” he stated. If there were, why bother showing up at all?
His message for Adelaide was simple: after everything that has been said, expect a different energy and a new look. “We just need people to stand up.”
Would you agree with Stokes’s assessment that a stronger, more fearless approach can flip the series, or do you see other factors as the key to reviving England’s Ashes hopes?
