England’s Ashes campaign has shifted from on-field frustration to off-field scrutiny, but Ben Stokes has made it clear where his priorities lie. With England already 3-0 up and the urn out of reach, the captain came out strongly in defense of his players amid allegations of excessive drinking during the mid-series break in Noosa.
The claims, which emerged ahead of the Boxing Day Test, added another layer of pressure to an already disruptive tour. While The England and Wales Cricket Board has confirmed it will look into the matterStokes decided to move the focus away from the speculation, stressing that the welfare and unity of the players remain paramount. England are trying to save their pride in the last two Tests.
Ahead of the Melbourne Test, Stokes repeatedly emphasized his responsibility to protect his team during a turbulent period.
“How I handle this moment now is the most important thing for me… The well-being of everyone there and probably some certain individuals is the most important thing for me as England captain,” Stokes said in his pre-match press conference.
“I know how this sort of thing can affect people and my role as England captain is to protect my players as much as I can,” he added.
Stokes also stressed that although the Ashes are now lost, England still have targets to chase for the rest of the tour.
“Looking after my players is one of the main things I have to get out of this because we need to win two cricket matches,” he said. “Right here, right now, my main job is to make sure they know they have my support so I can get them in the best possible shape to play for this country.”
Controversy surrounds reports that England players drank heavily during their four-day break in Noosa, a decision that has already been criticized by several former Australian players. An unverified video circulating on social media purporting to show Ben Duckett drunk has fueled the debate even more, although its authenticity and timing remain unclear. India Today could not independently verify the footage.
England chief executive Rob Key confirmed the ECB would investigate the allegations, while suggesting the players had behaved well. Yet the timing proved awkward, coming amid England’s long struggles in Australia. Their last Test win there came in 2011 and since then they have lost 16 of 18 matches on Australian soil.
Stokes acknowledged that scrutiny was inevitable given the results. “When you’re down three and lose a streak, everything you say and do is scrutinized,” he said. “You don’t really have a leg to stand on.
With two Tests remaining, England’s immediate goal is clear: avoid a 5-0 whitewash and leave Australia with something positive to hold on to. For Stokes, it starts with protecting his players, putting his mind at ease and trying to mine one final answer from a tour that has been falling apart on many fronts.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
December 24, 2025
