England captain Ben Stokes has delivered a stark message to his team, declaring there is no place for "weak men" on their faltering Ashes tour of Australia.
Tour in Turmoil After Brisbane Defeat
Stokes's side now face a monumental challenge, trailing the series 2-0 with three Tests remaining. The deficit follows another deeply flawed performance, culminating in an eight-wicket defeat at the Gabba in Brisbane on Sunday, 7 December 2025. The hosts chased down a meagre target of 65 with ease, highlighting England's struggles.
This loss comes hot on the heels of a two-day thrashing in Perth, leaving serious questions over the team's ability to handle the intense pressure of an Ashes series down under. With time running out, Stokes has emphasised the need for mental fortitude above all else.
Stokes's Fighting Words and Defiant Innings
Leading by example, Stokes batted for almost four hours on the final day in a doomed but defiant rearguard action. He later invoked a familiar mantra to describe the task at hand. "There is a saying that we have said a lot here, that Australia is not for weak men," Stokes stated.
"Teams who come to Australia can't be soft or weak, whatever it may be, because that's how it is out here: it's a tough place to come. You can't come to Australia and be weak but you also can't be in my dressing room if you are."
The all-rounder stressed that selection is based not just on ability and skill, but on character and mentality. He acknowledged that the team must address why they have been consistently outdone in crucial moments. "Australia keep outdoing us in those moments. At the moment we've not been able to stand up to what they've thrown at us," he admitted.
A Daunting Historical Challenge
The scale of England's task is historical. Only one team, Don Bradman's 1936-37 Australians, has ever overturned a 2-0 deficit to win a five-Test series. England's own record in Australia is bleak, without a single Test victory on Australian soil since the 2010-11 tour, a run encompassing 15 defeats and two draws.
To reclaim the urn, England must achieve a perfect hat-trick of wins in Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney. Despite the odds, Stokes insists hope is not lost. "It's a huge series that's been built up for a long, long time; we still have the opportunity to do what we came out here to do," he said.
"If we lose hope we might as well not turn up. I haven't lost hope, that dressing room hasn't lost hope and I'll be doing everything I can as a captain to ensure that everyone is as positive as they possibly can be."
The squad now has nine days to regroup before the third Test in Adelaide, with their character set for the ultimate examination.
