Stokes concerned for England’s mental wellbeing on Ashes tour of Australia

Stokes concerned for England’s mental wellbeing on Ashes tour of Australia The England cricket team have come in for heavy criticism of their performance and conduct on losing Ashes tour. Captain Ben Stokes said protecting England players’ welfare was his top concern amid claims of excessive drinking on a mid-Ashes beach break, without directly addressing the allegations. Stokes was peppered with questions on Wednesday ahead of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne about the team’s behaviour at Noosa between the second and third Tests after British media reports compared it with a “stag-do”. Recommended Stories list of 4 items list 1 of 4 5-time major winner Koepka quits lucrative LIV Golf tour to focus on family list 2 of 4 Wasteful Nigeria edge past Tanzania to make winning start to AFCON 2025 list 3 of 4 AFCON: Jackson at the double as Senegal defeat Botswana 3-0 list 4 of 4 AFCON 2025: All to know about Africa’s largest football tournament Unverified social media footage appeared to show opener Ben Duckett drunk and disoriented. Their disastrous five-Test tour, which has seen Australia take an unassailable 3-0 lead , took another hit on Wednesday when pace spearhead Jofra Archer was ruled out of the rest of the series with a side strain. England cricket chief Rob Key on Tuesday pledged to investigate the drinking claims, while the England and Wales Cricket Board said in a statement it was intent on establishing the facts. Stokes, whose team have already lost the Ashes, said his main concern was the players’ mental welfare and to ensure they were ready for the Melbourne Test starting Friday. “I’m obviously aware of the reports and everything circulating around right now,” Stokes said. “My main concern is my players, and how I handle this moment is the most important thing to me. “The welfare of everyone in there, and probably some certain individuals as well, is the most important thing to me right now as England captain. “It’s never a nice place to be in when not only the media world, but also the social media world, is piling on top of you,” he added. “It’s a very tough place to be in as an individual. As an individual, when you know you’ve got the support of the people who are sort of leaders, in a sense, it’s very good to know that you’ve got that support.” Asked directly whether his teammates had “done anything wrong in Noosa”, Stokes replied: “I’ve just answered everything there.” Stokes calls for focus as spotlight increases on England England went to Queensland tourist resort Noosa after losing the first two Tests in Perth and Brisbane heavily. They spent several days on the sand and around restaurants and bars before travelling to Adelaide, where they lost the third Test as Australia retained the Ashes. Britain’s Daily Telegraph reported that “after drowning their sorrows after the Brisbane Test, it is no exaggeration to say some, certainly not all, players drank for five or six days”....

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