Online Reporter
BEN STOKES has been blasted as “staggeringly arrogant” for his interview defending England’s build-up to the dismal loss in the first Ashes Test.
Australia triumphed to an eight-wicket victory inside just two days against the tourists in Perth.
England collapsed with the bat in their second innings after putting themselves into a promising position. The bowlers — including a superb Stokes – skittled the Aussies out in their first innings to earn a 50-run lead early into Day 2.
Zak Crawley‘s wicket fell early but Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope put on 65 runs before the other opener nicked off.
This gave England a lead of 115 to build on but then wickets tumbled with the middle order scoring just 25 runs between them.
Late resistance from Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse saw England set the Aussies 205 to win – a total that was demolished by Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne.
Speaking after the defeat, Stokes defended his team’s style and the fact that England did not play any warm-up games except against the England Lions.
The team have also not planned any matches between Ashes Tests despite now having 12 days until the Second Test at the Gabba.
Stokes — who turned in a typically heroic bowling performance to turn around the first innings – insisted that he wants his team to do things “their own way” and not repeat what previous sides have done. Defending England’s build-up, he told Test Match Special:
“We’ve operated in this way where we know that the preparation we put in is correct in the way it works for us.
“I’ve been asked this question a lot, that’s how it was done a long time ago. We prepare incredibly well and work incredibly hard every day we get the opportunity to work on our game. That’s what we’ll keep on doing we trust in out process and if the result don’t go in our favour.
“We won’t do different from that because we know, hand on heart, we know we put every ounce of ourselves into our training and we know and believe that this is the best way to operate.”
However, the comments have not filled fans with much confidence after the demoralising defeat in Perth. Fans reacted furiously on social media as they hit out at the England captain.
One posted: “Just listened to Stokes interview on TMS, absolutely horrific.”
A second wrote: “That interview by Stokes on TMS was staggeringly arrogant.”
A third commented: “That Ben Stokes interview on TMS was insane. Never heard anything like it after such a convincing loss.”
A fourth said: “Pathetic interview there from Ben Stokes. Where’s the accountability, where’s the acceptance of responsibility? ‘This is how we play, this is what works for us.’
“Sorry, Ben, no. That was a catastrophe, in both innings, and your batsmen need to face overs.”
Another added: “Stokes stubborn interview on TMS. They’re gonna have to lose 5-0.”
England last won an Ashes series Down Under in 2010/11 but have very rarely recovered after losing the first Test.
The last time the Barmy Army came back from a first Test defeat to win the Ashes in Australia was in the 1954/55 series – 70 years ago.
In that match, the Aussies romped to a 154-run victory after scoring 608/8 before declaring and bowling England out twice for a combined 447.
England then went on to win the next three Tests before the fifth ended in a draw. —Sun.
