England captain Ben Stokes has issued a stark warning to his players, urging them to brace for an Australian media "frenzy" desperate to exploit any off-field indiscretion during the upcoming Ashes tour.
Dealing with 'Unbelievable Journalism'
Speaking before a squad training session at Lilac Hill in Perth, Stokes revealed his team has already been subjected to what he termed "unbelievable journalism." He emphasised that the challenge in Australia extends beyond the boundary rope. "It's not just stuff out on the field that can get you, it's also the off-field stuff," Stokes stated, advising his less experienced teammates to take the intense scrutiny in their stride.
The all-rounder expressed mock disappointment when the media focus shifted from him to former captain Joe Root. "I was a bit gutted when they turned their attention to Rooty," he quipped. Stokes is relying on the four or five players with previous Ashes tour experience in Australia to guide the newcomers through the unique pressure cooker environment.
Hitting Back at the 'Has Beens'
Stokes also launched a robust defence of England's preparation for the series, hitting out at former internationals he labelled "has beens." Critics, including Sir Ian Botham, Sir Geoffrey Boycott, and Michael Vaughan, have questioned the team's limited warm-up schedule, which features just a single three-day fixture against a combined squad and Lions team.
Stokes countered that the modern cricketing calendar makes extensive preparatory tours impossible. "Cricket's changed so much and preparation is nowhere near as simple as it used to be," he explained. "We've been preparing for this tour... for a few years now. We leave no stone unturned. We have prepared incredibly well."
Injury Watch and 'Balls to the Wall' Warm-Up
With the first Test in Perth beginning on 21 November, Stokes confirmed the team's sole warm-up match would be approached with full intensity. He described the upcoming game as "balls to the wall for everyone, no easing into it."
On the fitness of his key fast bowlers, Stokes said it "would be exciting" to have both Jofra Archer and Mark Wood available for the opening Test, but cautioned that "it's still nine days until it starts, that's a lot of time for things to fall into place or for something to happen."
This cautious approach was vindicated almost immediately as news broke from the other side of the country that two of Australia's seamers, Josh Hazlewood and Sean Abbott, had limped off the field during a Sheffield Shield match, potentially disrupting the home side's plans with captain Pat Cummins already ruled out.
