Ben Stokes has come out swinging in defence of his England squad after footage of players riding e-scooters without helmets in Brisbane triggered another round of Australian scrutiny, insisting his team will not be cowed, curtailed or forced indoors as the Ashes tour intensifies.
The England captain made clear that the spotlight – which has followed the players from airports to golf courses and even an aquarium – will not stop them enjoying their time in Australia, despite criticism from local politicians who described the squad as “silly Pommy cricketers” for breaching Queensland’s helmet laws.
The incident, which also involved Mark Wood and Jamie Smith, prompted Queensland Police to speak to the players and “educate them on compliance requirements” rather than issue fines.
But it further fuelled a narrative in sections of the Australian media that England are an undisciplined touring party, arriving just days after their two-day defeat in Perth brought scrutiny of their tactical and selection decisions.
Stokes, however, has rejected the idea that England should retreat to their hotel rooms in response to the attention.
“If they think it is going to stop us enjoying this country when we have time off then it is not going to do that,” he said, describing Australia as “the best country to tour away from cricket” and stressing that downtime is essential for a squad under the relentless pressure of an Ashes series.
“There are so many things to do. You can go out and about and see things that only Australia has to offer, great golf courses, coffee shops and easy places to have lunch.”
England cricket players have faced plenty of scrutiny and attention during their time in Australia so far
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He argued that allowing players to “free your mind” and “enjoy yourself” is crucial for performance.
“We are human,” he said. “We need to enjoy countries when we get the opportunity because we live in England where it is miserable, freezing cold and dark at 4pm.”
England’s every move has been tracked since they landed in Perth, with cameras stationed outside their hotel from early morning and crews following them on rest days, including when players visited a golf course and the local aquarium.
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For some of the England squad – rookies in both the Ashes and in touring Australia – it has been an abrupt introduction to the intensity of the rivalry.
“Before we got out here those conversations happened as a group,” Stokes said. “It is not unexpected. We felt it when we got here.”
His own experience has shaped his approach. In 2017, Stokes endured one of the most hostile media campaigns faced by a modern cricketer after being charged with affray following an incident outside a Bristol nightclub – a charge from which he was later cleared but which ruled him out of the 2017–18 Ashes.
“I’ve been at the very, very bad end of the media,” he said. “I get it.”
Former Australia fast bowler Mitchell Johnson labelled England “arrogant” after the Perth defeat, a characterisation Stokes dismissed.
“I’d rather words like ‘rubbish’. ‘Arrogant’, I’m not too sure about that,” he retorted.
Ben Stokes was in a bullish mood ahead of England’s Ashes Test with Australia
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Stokes maintains that no one in the squad has behaved improperly.
“No-one is doing anything wrong with what’s been filmed or photographed. It’s making sure lads are getting that enjoyment element of touring such a great country like Australia,” he continued.
Asked whether the constant attention helps the sport or crosses a line, Stokes delivered a typically sharp response.
“A bit of both. My sponsors will be happy because I seem to be in the press every four days,” he said.
“It will probably continue throughout the rest of the tour. I don’t see anything wrong with going out and spending your time off on a golf course or having coffee or lunch, riding on a scooter. It’s fine.
“If they want to keep doing it, they are all polite and don’t intrude on our personal space. We have a job to do, they have a job to do.”
