Ben Stokes addresses Ashes off-field claims, backs England Squad

England captain Ben Stokes has backed his squad after reports surfaced about the drinking controversy during the Ashes break at the Sunshine Coast. Questions have been raised over the off-field conduct following online footage involving a top-order batter, prompting the board to review the incident. The all-rounder dismissed the chatter, stressing that player welfare remains his top priority.

“This is a crucial moment for me in terms of how I deal with it. As England captain, my priority right now is the well-being of everyone in the group, particularly a few individuals,” Stokes said at the pre–Boxing Day Test press conference, as quoted by Fox Cricket.

“I strongly relate to this. It may not be “close to me” in the strict sense, but I’ve witnessed its impact on people firsthand. And as England captain, my job is to safeguard my players as much as I can.We still have a target we’re trying to accomplish on this tour. But to be honest, things haven’t gone anything like we expected,” he added.

“Taking care of my players is one of my top priorities here, because we still have to go out there and win two cricket matches,” Stokes mentioned.

“I understand how situations like this can impact people, and like I’ve said, I’ll always do everything I can to protect my players. Right now, my main responsibility as England captain is to make sure they know I’m behind them. What matters most to me at this moment is helping the group get into the best possible mindset to go out there, perform for our country, and see out the rest of this tour.”

The England skipper didn’t give importance to suggestions of wrongdoing when the Noosa episode was highlighted.

“I’ve already answered all of that. I’ve said I’ll always keep supporting my players. As captain, I have a responsibility on the field to try to win cricket matches, but in moments like this I also have a duty to make sure I protect my players whenever I feel it’s necessary,” he concluded.

Related