MELBOURNE — England Test captain Ben Stokes has issued a defiant message ahead of the 2025-26 Ashes tour, stating that his team will not allow media scrutiny to diminish their enjoyment of Australia, firmly rejecting the notion of a "bunker mentality" that has characterised previous tours.
In a wide-ranging interview, Stokes emphasised a cultural shift within the England camp under the leadership of himself and head coach Brendon McCullum. He argued that embracing the Australian experience, rather than retreating from it, is key to success. "The media will not stop us enjoying Australia," Stokes declared, setting the tone for his team's approach.
A New Philosophy: Embracing the Arena
Stokes’s comments mark a deliberate departure from the often-insular strategies employed by touring England sides in the past. Where previous teams might have limited public engagements and been wary of the famously fierce Australian press, Stokes is advocating for openness. "We’re here to play cricket, of course, but we’re also here in an incredible country," he said. "To shut yourself off in the hotel, to see every headline as an attack, that’s a draining way to live for two months."
The all-rounder pointed to the transformative "Bazball" ethos, which prioritises mental freedom and positive expression on the field. He believes this philosophy must extend off the field as well. "Brendon and I have always talked about freeing the boys up to play without fear," Stokes explained. "That doesn’t switch off when you walk off the ground. It means enjoying the cities, the people, the atmosphere—even the banter."
Learning from History: The Pitfalls of Isolation
The history of Ashes tours in Australia is littered with examples of England teams becoming consumed by the external noise. The 2013-14 whitewash under Alastair Cook and the difficult 2021-22 series, played under strict COVID-19 restrictions, are often cited as cases where a sense of siege mentality may have compounded on-field struggles.
Stokes, who was a key figure in the 2021-22 tour, suggested that a more balanced approach can alleviate pressure. "When you treat everything as a battle, you’re fighting before a ball is even bowled," he observed. The captain outlined a few key principles his team will follow to maintain equilibrium:
- Engaging Selectively: Acknowledging the media’s role without letting narratives dictate mood.
- Team Cohesion: Using downtime to build bonds through shared experiences outside cricket.
- Perspective: Remembering the privilege of playing in an Ashes series and embracing the occasion.
The Australian Media Landscape
There is no avoiding the intensity of the Australian sporting media during an Ashes series. Headlines are designed to provoke, commentary is relentlessly partisan, and every moment of English vulnerability is magnified. Stokes, however, claims his team is prepared. "We know what’s coming," he said with a wry smile. "It’s part of the theatre. But we control how we react to it. We can choose to laugh it off, to use it as motivation, or simply to ignore it."
He pointed to the recent, thrilling Ashes series in England in 2023 as evidence of his team’s resilience. Despite numerous moments where the narrative turned against them, England stuck to their aggressive style and nearly reclaimed the urn. "That series was played in a incredible spirit, but it was also fierce," Stokes recalled. "We cop our fair share in the press at home, too. It’s about understanding it’s not personal; it’s about the contest."
A Message to the Squad
Stokes’s public statements are clearly also intended for his own dressing room, particularly players on their first Ashes tour down under. The captain wants to pre-empt any anxiety about the external environment. "My job is to make sure the lads feel supported to be themselves," he stated. "If someone wants to go to a coffee shop, or see the sights, or have a beer with the locals, they should. That’s how you create good memories, and a happy team is a dangerous team."
The Balance Between Enjoyment and Discipline
This is not, Stokes was keen to stress, a call for lax discipline or a holiday mindset. The primary mission—winning the Ashes—remains sacrosanct. "Make no mistake, the work comes first," he asserted. "Training will be intense, preparation will be meticulous. But there’s a big difference between professional focus and living in a bubble of paranoia."
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is understood to support this balanced approach, planning team activities and granting appropriate downtime to help players switch off. The goal is to arrive at the Gabba for the First Test in Brisbane energised, not exhausted by a pre-series phoney war.
Conclusion: Confidence or Complacency?
Some critics may view Stokes’s stance as overly confident or even naive, arguing that the unique pressure of an Australian Ashes tour demands a uniquely guarded approach. However, for Stokes and the McCullum regime, it is a calculated part of their psychological strategy. They believe that a team comfortable in its environment is a team more likely to play with the fearless flair that has become their trademark.
As Stokes put it: "We’re not coming here for a fight with the back pages. We’re coming here to play brilliant cricket, to take on Pat [Cummins] and his lads in their backyard, and to enjoy one of the great sporting challenges. The rest is just noise. And we won’t let the noise stop us from enjoying the music of an Ashes tour."
Only time will tell if this philosophy translates to results, but one thing is certain: Ben Stokes’s England intend to write their own story in Australia, on and off the field.