“We’re Ready”: Ben Stokes Brushes Off Botham, Boycott’s Harsh Criticism

England Test captain Ben Stokes robustly defended his team's limited Ashes preparations on November 12, 2025, dismissing criticisms from legends like Ian Botham and Geoffrey Boycott as outdated, insisting the squad is primed for the five-Test series opener against Australia on November 21 despite arriving in dribs and drabs from a disastrous 3-0 ODI whitewash in New Zealand. The full 16-man squad only convened in Perth over the weekend, with just one three-day intra-squad warm-up against England Lions at Lilac Hill starting November 13—far short of traditional acclimatisation tours—prompting Boycott to label it "madness" in The Telegraph, arguing match practice is essential for fine-tuning skills under Australian pressure. Botham echoed the sentiment in Melbourne, calling the approach "borderline arrogance" and stressing historical needs for stateside games to combat the "quicker ball" and differing light in Perth, where Australia faces a nation of 24.5 million backers. Stokes, sidelined since July by a shoulder injury, retorted that modern cricket's "jam-packed" calendar precludes old-school prep, quipping that comparisons to "has-beens" ignore evolved factors like white-ball commitments.

England's buildup contrasts sharply with Australia's near-complete Sheffield Shield involvement, where stars like Pat Cummins and Steve Smith sharpen red-ball edges on home pitches, a luxury the tourists lack amid their Bazball revolution under Brendon McCullum. Assistant coach Marcus Trescothick backed Stokes, shrugging off hypocrisy accusations by noting global norms have shifted: "Everyone does the same nowadays—you turn up, play a game, and into the series you go," emphasising strategic nets and simulations over volume matches. Voices like Michael Vaughan ("huge risk") and ex-Aussie Simon Katich ("asking for trouble") amplify concerns, but Stokes vowed a "balls to the wall" Lions clash to simulate intensity, confident in long-term planning: "We've been preparing for this for a very long time... everything possible to be in the right place."

The debate underscores generational rifts in Test cricket's evolution, where England's aggressive style—yielding nine wins in 12 home Ashes games since 2015—clashes with traditionalists' calls for acclimatisation, especially given the tourists' dismal Down Under record: 13 losses in 15 recent Tests, with two draws. Stokes, eyeing a first series win since 2010-11, downplayed history: "Past series don't count for much... Australia are phenomenal at home, so the next two-and-a-half months will be tough." With fitness woes plaguing pacers like Jofra Archer and Mark Wood—Botham's "big ifs"—the Lions game becomes crucial for rhythm, particularly for Stokes' all-round return.

Also Read: Travis Head Released From T20I Squad to Play Sheffield Shield Before Ashes

As Perth's bouncy Optus Stadium looms, this prelude tests not just readiness but resilience against a Baggy Green side bolstered by rested firepower. England's Bazball ethos—prioritising mindset over matches—could either vindicate Stokes or validate the veterans, setting the tone for a series that revives cricket's oldest rivalry amid packed global calendars.

Also Read: Pat Cummins to Miss Ashes Opener, Steve Smith to Captain Australia Against England