Ben Stokes has admitted that England's inability to handle pressure in the first two Ashes Tests has led him to question the character of his players. The captain said: 'A dressing room that I am captain of isn’t a place for weak men.'
Speaking after Australia's eight-wicket win in Brisbane, Stokes highlighted how his side had folded in key moments. 'Over and over again, Australia have managed to get through those periods and outdo us,' he said. 'If you can’t put it down to skill then you start to wonder, what is it?'
England coach Brendon McCullum suggested the team had overprepared, with five intense training days before the match. 'I think the boys just need a few days off,' he said, comparing it to varying training methods for a racehorse. Stokes agreed, noting the importance of training to dominate rather than just going through the motions.
Despite trailing 2-0, Stokes insisted he has not lost hope of winning the Ashes. 'If we lose hope we might as well not turn up,' he said. The squad will take a short break in Noosa before heading to Adelaide for the third Test, aiming to refresh mentally and physically.
