Ashes 2025-26: ‘Australia is the best country’ – Ben Stokes jokingly criticises his homeland while praising rivals | CricTracker

The Ashes 2025-26 is underway, with Australia taking a 1-0 lead after crushing England in the opening Test in Perth inside two days. Mitchell Starc’s sensational 10-wicket haul and Travis Head’s brilliant century powered the hosts to a dominant win. The historic rivalry between the two sides spans decades, and with it comes immense pressure on players from both camps.

Amid the tension, England captain Ben Stokes lightened the mood by praising Australia, jokingly comparing the country to his own homeland. He admitted that the Australian vibe is hard not to admire. With the Perth Test ending much earlier than expected, both teams had some rare downtime to reset and refocus. During their time off, several English players were spotted riding electric scooters without helmets, which quickly sparked controversy online. Unbothered by the criticism, Stokes responded defiantly, saying nothing could dampen their sense of adventure.

“Australia is the best country to tour away from cricket. There are so many things to do. You can go out and about and see things that only Australia has to offer, great golf courses, coffee shops, and easy places to have lunch. If they think it is going to stop us enjoying this country when we have time off, then it is not going to do that,” Stokes said to BBC.

Playing away matches is always challenging, and when it comes to the high-voltage Ashes, a tour turns into a battle. Stokes emphasised how important downtime is during overseas tours, especially since even England’s own home conditions can be demanding enough to drain any player.

After a brief break from cricketing action, Australia and England will reunite on the field on December 4. With the pink ball under the lights, the upcoming Test promises another dose of high-intensity drama.

“We are human. We need to enjoy countries when we get the opportunity because we live in England, where it is miserable, freezing cold, and dark at 4 pm,” said Stokes.

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