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Ben Stokes has openly acknowledged that he is enduring the most challenging period of his tenure as England’s cricket captain and has urged for greater empathy towards his teammates. The England squad’s dismal performance in the Ashes series against Australia has been overshadowed by reports suggesting excessive alcohol consumption among players during their time away from the field. Currently trailing 3-0 in the five-Test series, England’s chances of reclaiming the Ashes urn are effectively over, with the looming possibility of a complete whitewash if they lose the remaining two matches.
The controversy intensified after England’s director of cricket, Rob Key, confirmed on Tuesday that an investigation would be launched into the behavior of the players during their break in Noosa, a coastal town where the team stayed between the second and third Tests. On the same day, a video surfaced on social media showing opener Ben Duckett appearing intoxicated, though neither the BBC nor the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has confirmed the video’s authenticity, with the ECB stating it intends to “establish the facts” surrounding the matter. As England prepare for the fourth Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground over the Boxing Day period, Stokes spoke to BBC Sport about the immense pressures he is facing. “This is probably the toughest time right now as an England captain that I’ll have. I’m not going to run away from it. I feel like I will lead for the rest of this trip how I think I can help guys get through it,” he said.
Stokes refrained from commenting directly on the allegations involving Duckett but highlighted the intense scrutiny and challenges faced by players who spend significant time away from home, often juggling multiple formats of the game. “It is very gruelling and it is tough when you’re here, there and everywhere,” Stokes explained. He stressed the need for understanding, noting: “You have to deal with the emotions of being away [and] the scrutiny that you are under, in particular when things aren’t going well. Everything just gets heightened, but there needs to be a little bit of empathy towards stuff that people might not quite understand… just in this moment right now, I think a little bit of empathy from everyone would be not too hard to think about.”
In a related commentary, former England captain Michael Vaughan weighed in via his Telegraph column, criticizing the harsh judgment of players who were “having a bit of fun in between Test matches.” Vaughan admitted to similar behavior during his playing days but emphasized the importance of judging talents and officials on cricketing performance rather than off-field issues. He remarked, “Let us judge Duckett on the cricket field, let us judge Rob Key, the director of cricket, on the decisions that he has made and let us judge Brendon McCullum on the coaching he has delivered. Let us judge Ben Stokes on his captaincy over the series, and the players in terms of their numbers when the series has finished.” He also expressed doubt that Duckett should face official reprimand and pointed to broader cultural issues within cricket regarding drinking practices.
Stokes, who assumed the captaincy in 2022, has faced his own personal challenges, including missing the 2017-18 Ashes due to an off-field incident for which he was charged but later cleared of affray. Additionally, he took a hiatus in 2021 to focus on his mental health, candidly revealing struggles with panic attacks and fear over his future in the sport, as documented in a 2022 film. “I’ve had some pretty good times over my career. I’ve also had some pretty tough times,” he acknowledged. Stokes emphasized that his priority as captain is the well-being of the team during this difficult period: “I know what it can feel like when everything just piles on top of you. It’s hard. My main thing right now as England captain is making sure that everyone’s OK.” He confirmed that Duckett remains part of the squad for the next Test and said he has offered his support to the player, describing him as “an incredibly influential person” within the group.
The England contingent’s visit to Noosa was organized well before the Ashes tour and proceeded despite England falling behind 2-0 early in the series. Reports from various media outlets, including the BBC, indicated that some players engaged in heavy drinking not only during their stay there but also on prior days in Brisbane, where the second Test took place. Stokes reflected on how the team’s poor results intensify scrutiny: “When you’re winning, it’s a lot easier to do stuff. When you’re losing, like we have done with being 3-0 down, everything you say, everything you do gets criticised, analysed, and rightly so. You don’t really have a leg to stand on when you are 3-0 down in a big series like this.” England has not won an Ashes Test in Australia for 18 matches, and avoiding defeat in one of the final two games is crucial to prevent becoming only the fourth England side to lose 5-0 on Australian soil. Looking ahead to the upcoming match, Stokes urged his team to channel their frustration constructively: “How you use this kind of stuff is you either let it get on top of you too much or you can use it as fuel if you want to use it as fuel. Certain things inspire different people. Everyone will be focused when we come to here on Boxing Day and everyone wants to get that win.”
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