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England captain Ben Stokes has struck a defiant tone in the face of mounting off-field scrutiny, choosing to shield his squad rather than fuel the growing drinking culture narrative. Following a controversial mid-series break in Noosa that sparked debate over professionalism, Stokes made his priorities clear ahead of the high-stakes Boxing Day Test.
With England already 3-0 down and the Ashes series effectively lost, the captain is focusing on the human element of leadership, emphasizing player welfare over the external noise. His stance comes as the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) acknowledges viral footage involving opener Ben Duckett. For Stokes, the role of a leader in these turbulent moments is to serve as a protective barrier for his players against harmful public scrutiny.
Don't know what happens to Ben Duckett in Australia. Generally he is One of The Nicest Cricketers but in Australia he is completely opposite. During 2017/18 Ashes he poured a drink over James Anderson's Head and now this video.He has put his career on risk
— Aryan Goel (@Aryan42832Goel)
England captain Ben Stokes addresses drinking controversy ahead of Boxing Day Test against Australia
Addressing the media at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Stokes sidestepped specific allegations of misconduct to focus on the psychological toll such public scrutiny takes on his teammates. Amid allegations that several players engaged in heavy drinking during a four-day break on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, the captain refused to join the chorus of critics. He insisted that his primary objective is to safeguard the mental well-being of his squad as they look to rebuild momentum and avoid a 5–0 whitewash in the final two Tests. By framing his role as one of protection, Stokes is attempting to maintain a supportive environment within a team that has struggled to gain traction throughout a challenging tour.
“How I handle this moment right now is the most important thing to me. The welfare of everyone in there and probably some certain individuals as well is the most important thing to me right now as England captain. I know how this kind of stuff can affect people, and my role as England captain is to protect my players as much as I possibly can. This kind of stuff is very—I don’t know if ‘close to me’ is the right wording—but something that I have first-hand experience of how it can affect people. And as I said, my role as England captain is to protect my players as much as I possibly can. Right here, right now, that is my main job as England captain is to ensure that they know that they have my backing.”
Scrutiny in the wake of Ashes 2025-26 defeat vs Australia
While wanting to be protective, Stokes acknowledged that the only way for his team to escape the current level of criticism is by performing on the field. He was brutally honest about the team’s standing, admitting that losing the first three Tests in just 11 days of play has left them with zero leverage to argue against their detractors. Despite the devastation within the camp, the captain is urging his players to view the remaining matches at the MCG and SCG as a privilege. He reminded the group that representing England remains a lifelong dream that should not be overshadowed by a few days of negative headlines, even as the ECB establishes facts regarding the Noosa trip.
“When you’re 3–0 down and you’ve lost the series, everything you say, everything you do gets scrutinised, and rightly so. You don’t really have a leg to stand on when you’ve lost three games in a huge series like this. When you win, everything’s great; when you’re losing, it’s not. We have a goal still to try and achieve out here on this trip. It’s not gone anywhere near to plan whatsoever, but we’ve still got two games of cricket to play.” Stokes concluded.
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