Call us out if you like, but arrogant? That’s a stretch. England captain Ben Stokes has drawn a firm line after critics tore into his team following their shocking two-day collapse in the Ashes opener at Perth. England looked comfortably in charge on Day 2 — 105 runs ahead and brimming with confidence — before everything unraveled in spectacular fashion. Nine wickets fell for just 99 runs, turning strength into defeat almost overnight. The backlash was swift and brutal, with former players and pundits sparing little mercy. But the most cutting remark came from ex-Australian quick Mitchell Johnson, who branded England’s approach as “arrogant.” And that’s where Stokes pushed back.
"You can call us rubbish, call us whatever you want," Stokes said, ahead of England’s first Brisbane training session before the second Test. "But arrogant might be taking it a bit too far. We’ll take the rough with the smooth — that’s part of playing this sport at the top level. If someone says we’re rubbish, fine. But arrogant? I don’t think that’s fair."
For Stokes, the disappointment of Perth doesn’t erase the positives his side showed. "We didn’t play the kind of Test we were aiming for," he admitted, "but there were still great moments out there. Our supporters have traveled across the world to back us, and we want nothing more than to make them proud. They’re desperate to see us win — and believe me, that feeling is mutual. We’re working tirelessly, using every bit of time and effort to give ourselves the best possible shot in Brisbane."
But the controversy didn’t stop at the loss itself. Critics have also taken issue with England’s decision not to field their strongest line-up in the pink-ball warm-up match against the Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra ahead of the next Test. Some saw it as another sign of complacency — a decision that might come back to haunt them. Stokes, however, insisted the choice was based on logic, not laziness.
"I get the reaction, honestly," he said. "We’ve got a pink-ball Test next, and on the surface, it seems like it would make perfect sense to play a warm-up under similar conditions. But it’s not that simple. Canberra and Brisbane are completely different environments — different states, different pitches, different challenges. When you consider all of that, we felt the best way to prepare was to focus our training directly in Brisbane."
He explained that planning for a five-day Test that ended in just two meant schedules had to shift dramatically. "We had days allocated for rest and practice based on a full match. Since the game ended early, we had to rethink how we use that time most effectively. That’s why we’ve got a longer and more intense build-up to this pink-ball match," he noted.
England have now begun their preparations in Brisbane with sessions under the lights using the pink ball — a routine that will continue across the next four days as they aim to reset and reclaim momentum.
But here’s where opinions split: Was England’s approach truly strategic, or did they underestimate the magnitude of the challenge? Are critics right to call their methods misguided, or is Stokes being unfairly targeted for defending his team’s choices? What do you think — are England being pragmatic or just plain stubborn? Let’s hear your take in the comments.
