Ben Stokes, the captain of England, was questioned multiple times on Wednesday over the England and Cricket Board’s (ECB) inquiry into claims pertaining to the team’s drinking patterns.
After their prospects of winning the Ashes again were crushed in Adelaide last week, England were already facing harsh criticism. Claims of excessive drinking during the Three Lions’ excursion to Noosa on Tuesday made matters worse.
The ECB is also investigating an unconfirmed video that seems to show Ben Duckett, the opener, struggling to return to the team hotel while intoxicated. The video mentions England’s 2-0 series deficit, which suggests it was taken prior to the Adelaide Test.
The renowned Ben Stokes stated that his players’ well-being was his top priority, but he did not specifically mention anyone.
“The most important thing to me right now is how I respond to this situation. At a news conference prior to the Boxing Day Test, he told reporters, “The most important thing to me right now as England captain is the welfare of everyone in there and probably some certain individuals as well.”
“This kind of stuff is really—I’m not sure if that’s the right wording—close to me, but I know firsthand how it can impact people.” As I previously stated, my responsibility as captain of England is to safeguard my men to the greatest extent possible,” Ben Stokes continued.
It hasn’t even come close to being planned: Ben Stokes
In order to salvage some pride, the seasoned all-rounder stated that England is attempting to concentrate on winning the final two games in the series. He reaffirmed that he will continue to defend his players as their captain and acknowledged the burden that such accusations might place on them.
“On this trip, we still have an objective to work towards. It hasn’t even come close to the plan. Two cricket matches remain for us to play. For the remainder of this tour, we still have a lot of work and energy to put in. We need to go out there and win two cricket matches, so taking care of my guys is one of the most important things I need to do. I will always do all in my power to safeguard my players because I am aware of the impact this kind of crap can have on people,” Ben Stokes stated.
“The most important thing to me, sitting here right now, is a group of players that I can get into the best possible state to go out there and try and perform for this country and the remainder of this trip,” Ben Stokes continued. “My main job as England captain is to ensure that they know that they have my backing.”
In the final two games, England will try to offer their supporters something to look forward to after losing the Ashes 0-3. Their mental health may have suffered as a result of the accusations of excessive drinking, but as professional athletes, they must block out other distractions and concentrate on the task at hand.
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