Ben Stokes | DD News

November 20, 2025 12:51 PM

Composed Steve Smith ready to lead Australia into Ashes fire

Steve Smith cut a relaxed figure when he named the Australia team for the opening clash in his ninth and possibly final Ashes series on Thursday, a far cry from the perpetual angst that used to be his hallmark at the crease. An injury to Pat Cummins means Smith will captain his country in a stand-in capacity for the seventh time since losing the permanent job in 2018 for his part in the Newlands ball-tampering scandal. Smith will undoubtedly face jibes over that incident from the travelling En...

November 19, 2025 1:56 PM

England eye rare Ashes chance against depleted Australia

England head into Friday’s Ashes opener in Perth with a spring in their step and a golden opportunity to strike the first blow in the five-test series against an Australian team rocked by key injuries. England have not won a first Ashes test in Australia in nearly 40 years, nor beaten the hosts in Perth since 1978, but their opponents are vulnerable without front-line quicks Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood. Not in selectors’ darkest nightmares would the home side ever face the first “Bazb...

November 12, 2025 10:15 AM

Ben Stokes says England will be ready for Ashes opener despite lean preparations

Captain Ben Stokes brushed off concerns about England's Ashes preparations on Wednesday, saying there was no way the squad could prepare in the same way touring teams of the past had, given the demands of the modern game. England great Ian Botham raised questions on Tuesday about the preparations for the opening test, which amount to a few days' squad training followed by an internal match in Perth before the series opener begins in the same city on November 21. "I don't really know what we'...

August 5, 2025 9:52 AM

Stokes remains upbeat despite England’s painful loss to India

England captain Ben Stokes tried to focus on the positives after his team's agonising six-run loss to India in their riveting final test at The Oval on Monday. Stokes, who did not play in the match due to injury, watched on as the hosts collapsed from 301-3 to 367 all out to give India a share of the series. "Credit both teams. The amount of effort from both teams to end up here 2-2 is incredible," he told reporters. "The heart and passion and everything that was shown, especially in our seco...

July 30, 2025 4:14 PM

England skipper Ben Stokes ruled out of Oval Test against India

England captain Ben Stokes will miss the fifth and final test against India at the Oval with a shoulder injury, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on the eve of the match beginning on Thursday. Stokes was player of the match in the drawn fourth test in Manchester where the all-rounder smashed 141 and claimed six wickets with the ball. "Captain Ben Stokes is unavailable due to a right shoulder injury," the ECB said in a statement on Wednesday. In his absence, Ollie Pope will lead E...

July 28, 2025 12:25 PM

Stokes ready to deal with increased workload despite feeling sore all over

With England seemingly reliant on Ben Stokes with bat and ball, the struggling skipper insisted "pain is just an emotion" as he plans to take to the field for his side's fifth and deciding test against India this week. The England captain struggled with cramp in his left leg and was feeling his shoulder as the hosts failed to bowl India out in their second innings at Old Trafford on Sunday and had to settle for a fourth test draw. Stokes took his first five-wicket haul for eight years in India...

July 17, 2025 12:26 PM

Stokes’ long bowling spells vs India a great sign for England, says Root

Ben Stokes' lengthy bowling spells against India in the third test shows the England all-rounder has full confidence in his body after coming through injury layoffs, batter Joe Root said. The England captain bowled 44 overs at Lord's, the most of any bowler in the match, and took five wickets to guide the hosts to a 22-run victory and 2-1 lead in the five-match series. He contributed 44 and 33 runs and was named player of the match. The 34-year-old underwent a successful operation on a torn ha...

July 14, 2025 10:41 PM

Rejuvenated Stokes leads England to epic Lord’s win

England captain Ben Stokes was named player of the match after taking five wickets in his team’s dramatic 22-run victory over India in the third test at Lord’s as well as scoring 44 and 33 and running out the dangerous Rishabh Pant in a splendid all-round performance. Stokes, 34, underwent a successful operation on as torn hamstring in December followed by a rigorous physical fitness programme during which he lost 10 kilograms in weight. On Sunday he showed he was back to his best with the...

October 5, 2024 6:05 PM

Recovering Stokes out of Pakistan opener, Carse to make test debut

England captain Ben Stokes will miss the opening test against Pakistan in Multan to continue his recovery from a hamstring injury, the 33-year-old said on Saturday. Batter Ollie Pope, who led England during the home series against Sri Lanka, will lead the tourists in the match beginning on Monday. "I tried my hardest to get myself fit for this game, but have taken the call to miss this one because I’ve not quite managed to get game-ready," Stokes told BBC Sport. "There is a lot that has to ...