England captain Ben Stokes has put a protective arm around his beleaguered side and pledged his support for under-fire opener Ben Duckett.
The tourists have already surrendered the urn after a 3-0 defeat and their build-up to the Boxing Day Test has been plagued by reports of excessive drinking during their mid-series trip to Noosa.
Within hours of general manager Rob Key announcing he would investigate the team’s alcohol intake during the trip, unverified footage appeared on social media appearing to show a drunken Duckett in a tense conversation with members of the public.
Stokes was speaking for the first time since the England and Wales Cricket Board released a statement reiterating his “high expectations for behavior”. He said his priority as skipper was to protect his players from the growing gaze of scrutiny.
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England captain Ben Stokes answers questions during a press conference
(Robbie Stephenson/PA)
Treatment
There’s nowhere to hide at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, where a festive crowd of around 90,000 is expected to dish out plenty of partisan barracks, with Duckett’s precarious position hardly helped by a batting average of just 16.
Stokes has endured difficult moments in his own career, including being expelled from an England Lions tour in 2013 for breaching team rules and being found not guilty on charges of affray after a 2017 incident outside a Bristol nightclub.
He took a mental health hiatus from the game in 2021 and later released a documentary detailing his personal struggles.
“I am obviously aware of the reports and everything that is circulating. My main concern at the moment is my players and how I deal with this moment is the most important thing for me,” he said.
“I have experienced first-hand how this can affect people and my role as England captain is to protect my players as best I can.
“It’s really important to support them and let them know that I will be there for them through thick and thin, and Ben Duckett knows that.”
Reassurance
“I’ve obviously reached out to him, spoken to him and offered my full support throughout this process, especially at a time like this when everything feels like it’s on top of you.
“My job as England captain is obviously to be there and get results for the team, but also to try to give people the best opportunity to be in a mental space where they can go out and perform.”
Of his conversation with Duckett, he said, “You know when you go up to someone and say, ‘I’m always here if you need five minutes.’
“I just reassured him that I’m not just saying that. Please come to me because I know what it’s like. It’s not a nice place to be.”
With no reserve openers on tour, Duckett was never likely to be withdrawn in Melbourne, but as expected, Ollie Pope has finally retired at number three.
Jacob Bethell gets to star in what will comfortably be the biggest match of his career.
Pope has been under pressure for a year, averaging 17 in 16 Ashes innings and losing the vice-captaincy just before traveling to Australia. He now faces a return to county cricket and a long road back after 64 Tests.
Gus Atkinson also returns to the England XI in place of Jofra Archer, with England’s most threatening bowler ruled out for the remainder of the tour due to a worrying strain on the left side.
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