Ben Stokes has come in for criticism even from England fans after his mindset was revealed via comments to his team during the 2023 Ashes series. In the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) documentary Ashes 2023 | Our Take, Stokes attempted to encourage the group after Manchester rain played spoilsport to England’s attempt to overturn a 2-0 deficit and regain the Ashes.
“The reward for our work isn’t what we get, but what we become,” Stokes said.
“And what we have managed to do is, we’ve managed to become a sports team that will live forever in the memory of people who were lucky enough to witness us play cricket.”
Stokes then went on to claim that what the team has done is a lot bigger than any Ashes victory. Such a comment didn’t sit well with sections of the supporter base, especially given that winning is the ultimate goal, particularly in a series as big as Australia.
“I know it’s going to be a bit flat, I know it’s going to hurt that we go into the next game (at The Oval) not being able to get the urn back,” he said.
“But, what we have done is something a lot bigger than any Ashes trophy could ever signify for this team, be the team that everybody will always remember.”
The documentary has shed a lot of light on the eventful Ashes series. Joe Root was particularly insightful on the Jonny Bairstow stumping, claiming that England’s keeper-batsman should have stayed in his crease.
“Like some evangelical cult” – Ben Stokes and Bazball criticised for mindset
Fans took aim at Stokes’ comments given the team missed golden opportunities in the first two Tests of the 2023 Ashes at Edgbaston and Lord’s. England played exciting cricket, but were ultimately architects of their own downfall in the key moments.
“This England team are coming across like some evangelical cult” wrote one fan on X (formerly Twitter). The arrogance to believe that hard working people want to pay £100+ a ticket, to England lose but ‘be lucky enough to watch us play cricket’. Christ lads, stop trying to be cult leaders and try to win matches.”
Stokes responds to Fox Cricket
Australian publication Fox Cricket were never going to miss an opportunity to take a swipe at the England captain. In a social media post, Fox Cricket mentioned England have won four of 11 Tests since the start of 2023.
“Said this to the team who had watched it rain for 2 days when we had our foot on your throats, just tried to cheer up the disappointment tbh, but anyways rent free and all that,” Stokes wrote.
This episode is sure to keep the pot simmering nicely with the next Ashes series a year-and-a-half away in Australia.
