Ben Stokes recognises something familiar amid all the clamour around England’s standing in the Ashes series. When his team was 0–2 down at home two summers ago, they had to fight back to tie the series. The captain maintains that the task’s clarity is intact despite the much harsher environment this time around—away in Australia, where England hasn’t won a Test in 15 years.
“We are able to draw on experience of being in this situation before,” Ben Stokes stated the night before the pivotal Brisbane Test. We understand what it’s like to be in this predicament, so we knew we needed to come here and win this many games. That hasn’t altered from when we first started.”
Ben Stokes said that rather than making the team’s path more difficult, the disadvantage has helped them think more clearly. “Everyone is aware of the upcoming week’s events and what comes next. Even if nothing else, it helps us see things a little more clearly and simply. I fully support our ability to accomplish this.
The notion that the players now owe him and the management a reaction for his steadfast support of them was firmly rejected by Ben Stokes. “No, I would never put it like that,” he responded. “We have supported a team for a considerable amount of time so that you may not only take advantage of what this game has to offer when everything is going well, but in times like these, you can rely on the players you have supported to perform well.
“Hopefully, these guys will be able to defend both the team and the nation this week. That’s not how I would phrase it: You owe us, you owe me. Go forth, complete the tasks at hand, and have faith in your own abilities.”
In this crucial match, the talismanic captain called on his team to demonstrate that they have a “bit of dog” in them, using the Lord’s Test match against India earlier this year as an example. In that match, which was also the third Test of the series, India captain Shubman Gill and Zak Crawley engaged in a verbal sparring match over time-wasting strategies. After that, an energised England put on a strong show to win that Test.
“I have completed all of the necessary discussions during the past two days. Now that all of that is finished, the focus will be on what happens on the pitch in Adelaide this week. It simply comes down to knowing the circumstance and what you believe is necessary for your team, and trying to fight in every position you find yourself in. Just show a little dog and always glance at your opponent. To me, that is a fight. The more dog you have in you, the better chance you’re giving yourself.”
The Test’s backdrop also includes the residual edge from the Brisbane Test’s conclusion, when Jofra Archer’s hostile spell at Steve Smith momentarily and belatedly gave the match some bite. However, Ben Stokes took care to portray these instances as incidental to the larger goal.
“We have to remember what the actual goal this week is, and make sure that it is at the forefront of everyone’s mind,” he explained. “I’m sure it will happen that we need to get niggly like that at some point, and we’ll need to build on those moments as a team. It’s ensuring that the mind doesn’t focus only on making such things. Making sure we win this week is the most important thing.
According to Ben Stokes, the group’s response over the past three days has demonstrated that sense of purpose.
He stated, “It goes one or two ways.” “The group’s collective reaction has been precisely what I was hoping for. “So yeah, everyone’s got a very, very clear mind and they’ve understand what this week is all about.”
India
