Following England’s defeat in just two days of the first Ashes Test, captain Ben Stokes has stated that while his team is open to criticism, he will not accept the label of being ‘arrogant’.
England had taken the lead in the first innings at the Perth Test. On day two, with nine wickets in hand, they were once 105 runs ahead, but collapsed from 99 runs for 1 wicket remaining, losing nine wickets in quick succession. Travis Head then led Australia’s chase with a devastating innings, reaching a target of 205 runs in 29 overs.
Post-match, England faced intense criticism. Former players and analysts argued that England’s aggressive style was driven by arrogance. However, Stokes disagrees. According to him, England may have played poor cricket in the first Test, but they were not arrogant.
Stokes said:
“You can call us rubbish if you want. We didn’t play the match as we intended. We had some good moments… but the word ‘arrogant’ goes too far.”
He added,
“We will accept the good and bad. I’d rather hear ‘rubbish’ than ‘arrogant’.”
England now has 11 days before the second Test in Brisbane. The team initially took some rest and then held discussions to plan for the second match. Practice sessions with the pink ball have begun.
Second Test Details:
| Match | Venue | Start Date | Ball Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd Test | Brisbane (Gabba) | 4 Nov | Pink Ball, Day-Night |
Stokes’ message is clear: England welcomes criticism but will not accept the tag of arrogance.