Ben Stokes Hits Back at Australian Media's Criticism of Ashes Team Talk

Ben Stokes has responded to the Australian media's mockery of his inspirational speech given to the England team during last summer's Ashes, asserting that his team occupies a significant place in the Australians' minds.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) recently released a three-part documentary titled Our Take: The Ashes 2023. This series offers a behind-the-scenes look at England's perspective, contrasting with Australia's version of events presented in Prime Video's The Test.

Our Take provides an inside view of the England dressing room after the fourth Test at Old Trafford, where continuous rain over two days led to a draw, ensuring Australia's retention of the Ashes. Despite leading the series 2-0, Australia couldn't clinch the win, with England securing victories in the third Test at Headingley and the fifth at the Kia Oval, resulting in a 2-2 series tie.

During his team talk, Stokes accentuated that their efforts were not in vain despite not reclaiming the urn. He stated that their true reward was the legacy they were creating. Stokes noted, "We’ve become a sports team that will live forever in the memory of those who were fortunate enough to see us play cricket."

Acknowledging the team's disappointment, Stokes remarked, "I understand it's tough knowing we can't win back the urn, but we've achieved something much greater – being a team that will always be remembered."

The speech has been heavily criticised in Australia, with Fox Cricket publishing a story accompanied by a sarcastic caption on X (formerly Twitter). In response, Stokes tweeted, "I told this to the team after two days of rain when we had the upper hand, simply trying to lift their spirits. But anyway, rent-free and all that."

Under the guidance of Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum, England has maintained that they prioritise entertainment over results, a stance that has polarised opinions among fans and critics alike. Initially, their approach led to significant success, winning 10 out of their first 11 Tests, but their recent performance has seen a dip, with only four wins in the last 12 matches, including a 4-1 series loss in India earlier this year. England is set to return to the field next week against the West Indies at Lord’s, marking a transitional period with James Anderson's retirement and the introduction of Surrey’s Jamie Smith as the new wicketkeeper.