England captain Ben Stokes has addressed claims that his workforce confirmed conceitedness within the first Ashes 2025-26 Check towards Australia in Perth. Forward of the second Check, the veteran all-rounder admitted England missed necessary probabilities within the opener, however mentioned he was not proud of being labeled “smug”.
Within the Check match, which resulted in simply two days, Australia dominated England within the Ashes, taking a 1-0 lead. Left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc contributed to Australia’s victory. He took 10 wickets in the complete match, together with a devastating 7-wicket burst within the first innings, incomes him participant of the match honors.
England misplaced the sport shortly within the second innings and have been disenchanted. Former pacer Mitchell Johnson had a powerful response after the loss, accusing the visiting workforce of being “smug”.
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I would slightly be “garbage” than be referred to as “smug” – Ben Stokes
Ben Stokes has hit again at claims that his workforce confirmed conceitedness through the Perth Check, saying the criticisms have gone too far. Stokes mentioned he was open to criticism and will settle for folks calling England “garbage”, however added that accusations of conceitedness have been unfair.
“Look, you may name us garbage, you may name us no matter you need. We did not have the Check match we needed. We have been nice in that match, however conceitedness could be going a little bit too far,” Ben Stokes mentioned throughout an interplay with the media.
“Nevertheless it’s okay. We cope with the tough and tumble. I would slightly use the phrase ‘garbage’ however ‘smug’. I am undecided about that,” the England captain mentioned.
“Vanity could be a bit an excessive amount of.” 🙅
Former Australian tempo bowler Mitchell Johnson described England as “smug” and “cocky poms” who risked “severe embarrassment”.
Ben Stokes mentioned he was “not too positive” in regards to the allegations of conceitedness. pic.twitter.com/KmT13PvW4z
— Check Match Particular (@bbctms) November 29, 2025
Everyone knows it was a gaffe – Ben Stokes
A number of former captains, together with Ian Botham, Graham Gooch and Michael Vaughan, criticized the choice to play only one sport over three days of coaching. Ben Stokes has clarified that he by no means meant to insult his former participant and mentioned the remark was an unintended gaffe.
“Everyone knows it was a gaffe,” Stokes mentioned. “What I mentioned there was utterly flawed, and I feel everyone knows that.
“Previous is a horrible phrase. That is all that got here out of my mouth at that second. I will be a kind of folks sometime. I feel everyone knows that that is utterly the flawed wording and that is in no way what I meant by it,” he added.
Australia leads 1-0 in five-match Check sequence
Australia simply overtook the 205 automobiles within the Perth take a look at. Travis Head, who was promoted to opening pitcher, accomplished his century in simply 69 balls. He scored 123 runs, adopted by Marnus Labuschagne with an unbeaten 51 runs. The hosts clinched an eight-wicket victory within the match, which ended inside two days.
England traveled to Brisbane for a five-day coaching block forward of the day-night second Check on the Gabba, however preparations have been interrupted by rain on Saturday.
Three gamers who have been unused within the first Check, Jacob Bethell, Josh Tan and Matthew Potts, joined the England Lions for the two-day pink-ball sport. Mark Wooden missed an non-compulsory apply session and is anticipated to overlook the second Check resulting from a recurrence of an issue together with his left knee.
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