Ben Stokes | DD News

January 7, 2026 2:43 PM

England have created a cult around the way they play and talk, a lot of it is nonsense: Vaughan

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has launched a fierce critique of the current England setup, accusing the side of developing a “cult” mindset and warning that sweeping changes may be unavoidable following another faltering Ashes campaign. Pressure is mounting on captain Ben Stokes, head coach Brendon McCullum and managing director of cricket Rob Key as England edge towards defeat in the Sydney Test — a result that would see the series conclude 4-1 in Australia’s favour. England a...

December 24, 2025 9:34 AM

Ben Stokes concerned for England player welfare amid media scrutiny

An emotional England captain Ben Stokes on Wednesday said the mental well-being of his players was his main priority heading into the last two matches of the Ashes series. The England players have come in for heavy criticism since Australia wrapped up an 82-run win in the third test in Adelaide on Sunday to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series and retain the urn. Media and social media reports of some players taking a "Stag Party" attitude to a trip to the Queensland resort of Noosa b...

December 23, 2025 1:00 PM

England to probe claims of drinking spree during Ashes tour break

England cricket managing director Rob Key said on Tuesday the team management would investigate allegations that players engaged in excessive drinking during a mid-series break ahead of the Adelaide Test in the Ashes series. The England squad spent four nights in Noosa, a coastal resort in Queensland, between the second and third Tests. The trip, organised by head coach Brendon McCullum, was described by team officials as an opportunity to reset after heavy defeats in Perth and Brisbane. Key, ...

December 22, 2025 12:12 PM

Experience the key for Australia’s Ashes win: Mitchell Starc

The wealth of experience in Australia's ranks helped them remain calm in a difficult lead-up to the Ashes, fast bowler Mitchell Starc said after they defeated England on Sunday to win the series with two matches to spare. Australia wrapped up an 82-run win on day five of the third test in Adelaide to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series and retain the urn, putting an end to the criticism of the team's age profile that dominated the pre-Ashes discussion. Starc said it was Australia's kno...

December 22, 2025 12:04 PM

Ben Stokes seeks solace in positives from England’s Adelaide Ashes loss

Captain Ben Stokes believes England can build on the positives from their loss in the third Ashes test to Australia in Adelaide as they look to claim the country's first win Down Under in almost 15 years in the series' two remaining tests. Australia's victory at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday ensured they retain the urn with an unassailable 3-0 series lead but an improved England batting performance in their second innings has given Stokes hope for the matches in Melbourne and Sydney. "I think so...

December 22, 2025 12:01 PM

Injury raises doubts over ‘irreplaceable’ Nathan Lyon for Boxing Day test

Australia captain Pat Cummins cast doubt on Nathan Lyon's ability to recover in time for the fourth Ashes test in Melbourne after his side celebrated retaining the urn with two matches to spare against England in Adelaide on Sunday. The spinner injured his right hamstring on the final day of the third test, which the Australians won by 82 runs to go 3-0 up in the five test series, and left the Adelaide Oval on crutches just five days before the next meeting on Dec. 26. "It doesn't look great,"...

December 22, 2025 11:59 AM

‘Hubris has taken over’: England’s McCullum under fire after Ashes defeat

England's red-ball coach Brendon McCullum faced a barrage of criticism from former players and captains on Sunday after his team slumped to another crushing Ashes defeat by Australia. The hosts swept to an 82-run win in the third Ashes test at Adelaide Oval to retain the urn with two matches to spare. After eight-wicket defeats in Perth and Brisbane, England have lost the Ashes in three matches for the fourth consecutive tour, while losing 16 of their last 18 tests in Australia. The thrashing...

December 22, 2025 11:57 AM

Ashes defeat heralds end of England’s Bazball era

It was a wild ride while it lasted but the 'Bazball' revolution that enlivened English cricket for three years collapsed in 11 days on Australian soil in an Ashes defeat as harrowing as any in the modern era. Bazball's champions, coach Brendon 'Baz' McCullum and captain Ben Stokes, may argue otherwise and claim England's death-or-glory style can be retooled and rise again. In reality, it is unlikely to survive the bitter post-mortem that looms at the end of a series that had promised so much a...

December 22, 2025 11:56 AM

Labuschagne mocks Broad’s ‘worst Australian team’ jibe after Ashes triumph

After taking two stunning slips catches at Adelaide Oval to hasten England's Ashes defeat, Marnus Labuschagne did not miss the chance to stick it to Stuart Broad for a pre-series jibe about the quality of the Australian team. Former England quick Broad had said on his podcast in October that Pat Cummins's side were "probably the worst Australian team since 2010 when England last won". Ben Stokes' side, meanwhile, were the best English team since 2010. England last won an Ashes series Down Und...

December 22, 2025 10:57 AM

McCullum concedes mistakes were made after England suffer another Ashes failure

Brendon McCullum admitted he had made mistakes as England head coach and said their preparations may have been flawed after the tourists surrendered the Ashes with defeat in the third test in Adelaide on Sunday. England's light preparations and lack of tour matches in Australia drew heavy criticism from former players and pundits, and the subsequent Ashes failure has put McCullum's role under major scrutiny. "It is disappointing when you lose and I'm sure there will be plenty of questions aske...