The England cricket team's preparation for the upcoming Ashes series has ignited fresh controversy, as captain Ben Stokes and several teammates were spotted playing golf just days before the crucial first Test in Perth.
Images emerged of Stokes, top-order batter Ollie Pope, and fast bowler Matthew Potts enjoying a round at the luxurious Araluen Estate course. The picturesque 18-hole venue, located 45km south-east of Perth's CBD, is a sought-after destination also used for weddings.
Familiar Criticism for Unconventional Methods
This is not the first time the team's methods have been questioned. The side was previously slammed for similar activities before the 2023 Ashes. Former England skipper Michael Vaughan has been a vocal critic, having hammered the team's "laidback approach" last year after they lost the first Test.
Vaughan, alongside fellow former captain Ian Botham, recently criticised the decision to play only one three-day warm-up match against a second-string English side. Stokes was forced to respond to these "has-beens," defending the team's thorough preparation methods.
High Stakes and Historical Pressure
The scrutiny comes at a pivotal moment for English cricket in Australia. England has not won an Ashes match on Australian soil since early 2011, and they have failed to win a series since 2015.
Only three players from that 2015 winning squad—Ben Stokes, Joe Root, and Mark Wood—are on this tour, making this a potential final chance for them to reclaim the urn Down Under.
The first Test at Perth Stadium begins on Friday, marking England's first-ever Test match at the ground. Speculation about the pitch is rife, with Vaughan suggesting it could be "doctored" following injuries to Australian pace spearheads Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.
As the team dusts off its clubs, the cricketing world watches to see if this relaxed strategy will finally end England's long drought in Australia or become another chapter in a saga of criticised preparations.
