Ben Stokes has called on his England players to summon up the rage witnessed against India in the summer and show some “dog” as they look to keep their slim Ashes hopes alive in Adelaide.
After going 2-0 down in Brisbane, Stokes spoke of Australia being “no country for weak men” and stressed the same went for the England dressing room under his captaincy. Looking ahead to the third Test that gets under way on Wednesday, that comment was seemingly no slip of the tongue.
Instead, having allowed it to initially sit with his players during their mid-series break in Noosa, Stokes has since doubled down on it internally. This included a reminder of the time-wasting row with India at Lord’s back in July that triggered a spate of running verbals and, in the end, a 22-run win.
“What needed to be said has been said,” replied Stokes, when asked if that message about weakness had been reiterated this past week. “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?
“It’s trying to fight in every situation that you find yourself in, understanding the situation and what you feel is required. And yeah, just look at your opposition every single time and show a bit of dog. That is fight to me.
“[Lord’s] has been brought up. That is exactly what I’m on about – a moment where we all did that. You saw the way that team came out on that final day. We had to be absolutely perfect to win that game and we were. Attitude and mentality towards that situation is what gave us the best chance of winning.”
England have made one change to their XI this week. Josh Tongue has come in for Gus Atkinson – fresh legs into the pace attack – while Shoaib Bashir has again been overlooked for Will Jacks, the all-rounder, despite Stokes describing the 22-year-old as his first choice spinner a fortnight ago.
Of the 12 players England have used in this series, just five had played in Australia previously. Asked if the intensity of the cricket – not least two hostile crowds in Perth and Brisbane – was the reason for this supposed lack of fight from his team, Stokes replied: “Honestly, I think so.”
He continued: “I remember my first tour here. You try to imagine what it’s going to be like and you hear people talk. But when it does come around it’s like ‘wow’. Now I feel everyone has experienced that and probably at its highest level, so we all know what it’s going to be like.
“So for the next three games there isn’t going to be any ‘I didn’t expect this’ or ‘it’s the first time I’ve had this’. Even the likes of Jamie Smith. He dropped that catch [at the Gabba] and then the whole crowd was then wailing at him every time he caught the ball. He now knows it.”
Asked if he had a message for supporters doubtless deflated by England’s performances so far, Stokes replied: “It’s completely understandable. But there are no deflated feelings whatsoever in this team right now.
“There obviously were after the first two games because that’s what the game does to you. But sitting here right now there’s none of that with me and none of that with the team. If we were, what would be the point in turning up?
“So hopefully in Adelaide, after everything that’s been said, there’ll be a different feel and a different look. We just need people to stand up.”
