Ben Stokes admits feeling ‘shellshocked’ after England’s defeat against Australia
Ben Stokes expressed feeling ‘shellshocked’ following England’s significant eight-wicket defeat to Australia on Saturday. The loss followed a challenging second day of play, where England managed only 164 runs in their second innings, allowing Australia to secure a commanding victory led by a stellar century from batsman Travis Head, reports BritPanorama.
The defeat marked a disappointing performance for Stokes, who struggled with both bat and ball, echoing the lacklustre efforts of his teammates. This overwhelming setback means Australia now leads the five-match Ashes series 1-0, with four Test matches remaining.
Stokes recognised Head’s exceptional performance, stating, “That innings from Head was pretty phenomenal and knocked the wind out of us.” The England captain acknowledged his team’s collective shortcomings, admitting to regrets about the tactical approach taken during the match.
“I suppose looking back it might be a case of ‘on wickets like this, you never have enough and try to push on if you get in’,” Stokes reflected. He noted that getting the ball in the right area is crucial, highlighting that batters who took chances had success against the Australian bowlers.
Despite the disheartening loss, Stokes commented on England’s previous control of the Test, particularly praising the bowling efforts on the first day, saying, “The way we bowled yesterday was phenomenal, so this is a tough result to take when we felt we were in control of the game.” He called for resilience as the team prepares for the next Test in Brisbane starting on December 4.
The aftermath of the match was not solely about England’s struggles; it was a moment of redemption for Australia, especially for Head, who scored a remarkable 123 runs. Reflecting on his innings, he remarked, “I don’t think you can sum it up, can you?” indicating the significance of the victory for his side.
As England gears up for the upcoming games, Stokes emphasized the importance of regrouping and maintaining focus, saying, “We have four more games so we need to get our heads around this and move on to Brisbane and hit the ground running.”
In the end, the day served as a stark reminder of how quickly fortunes can shift in cricket, with both teams now looking to seize momentum as the series progresses.
