Ben Stokes has called out England’s mentality after they suffered another heavy defeat to Australia, going 2–0 down in the Ashes following an eight-wicket loss in Brisbane.
According to Sky Sports, England showed more fight on day four, with Stokes scoring a half-century and adding 96 runs with Will Jacks, but their total only left Australia needing 65 to win.
Earlier, poor bowling, five dropped catches, and a top-order collapse had put England in serious trouble.
Speaking to TNT Sports, Stokes says that when the game is on the line, other teams handle pressure better than England.
He says that dropping catches or bowling poorly isn’t intentional, but at this level, such mistakes cannot happen.
He adds that England failed to bowl with discipline and allowed Australia to score runs too easily.
Despite the setback, Stokes believes England can still turn the series around.
He says they must win the next three matches and need to show more fight.
He adds that the issue isn’t with skill, but with mentality, and that needs to be addressed.
The third Test of the 2025–26 Ashes series will take place in Adelaide, starting on Wednesday, 17 December at 11.30am.
The final two matches of the series will be played in Melbourne and Sydney.
Source: Sky Sports
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