Ben Stokes Ashes preparations: England captain hits back at critics
Ben Stokes Ashes preparations — England captain Ben Stokes has dismissed criticism from legends Ian Botham and Geoffrey Boycott over England’s limited warm-up time before the Ashes 2025 in Australia.
Ben Stokes Defends England’s Build-Up
England’s full squad only assembled in Perth a week before the first Test, drawing concern from pundits who called the plan “madness.” Stokes, however, said modern scheduling leaves no room for extended preparation. “We’ve been preparing for this for a very long time,” he said. “From the 21st, we’ll be in the right place.”
Legends Question Preparation
Boycott and Botham criticized the lack of red-ball match practice, saying previous tours required acclimatization. Botham called the absence of state-team warm-ups “bordering on arrogance.”
England Camp Stays Positive
Assistant coach Marcus Trescothick backed Stokes, insisting that quick turnarounds are now standard worldwide. England last won an Ashes series in Australia in 2010–11 and have lost 13 of their last 15 Tests there. Still, Stokes believes his side is ready for the challenge.
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