Ben Stokes has defended his England side against accusations of arrogance following their two-day defeat in Perth, though he accepted broader criticism as part of the results business. The England captain took issue specifically with the word 'arrogant', used by former Australia fast bowler Mitchell Johnson in a newspaper column.
'You can call us rubbish, call us whatever you want to,' Stokes said before training in Brisbane. 'I think arrogant might be a little bit too far, but that's OK. We'll take the rough with the smooth.' He acknowledged that England performed well in passages of the Test but ultimately failed to secure the desired result.
The second Test, a day-night affair, begins on Thursday at the Gabba, where England last won in 1986. Most England players opted out of a two-day tour match in Canberra to train in Brisbane, a decision that fuelled criticism. Stokes stressed the team's desperation to win for their fans, saying they are doing everything possible to achieve that goal.
