After a crushing defeat in the first two-day Ashes Test for 104 years in Perth, England faced criticism for their approach on the field, off-field activities and their decision not to send anyone from their first Test XI to play in the England Lions game in Canberra.
Former Australia fast bowler Mitchell Johnson called England “arrogant”, to which Stokes replied: “I’d prefer a word like ‘nonsense’. ‘Arrogant’, I’m not sure about that.”
All-rounder Stokes is one of the most high-profile cricketers in the world. The 34-year-old faced extreme media criticism in 2017 when he was accused of affray following an incident outside a Bristol nightclub.
Stokes was ultimately acquitted, but missed the 2017–18 Ashes tour as a result.
Some of the England players are in their first Ashes series and first tour to Australia.
“We had these conversations as a group before we left here,” Stokes said. “This is not unexpected.
“We realized it when we got here. There were cameras in front of the hotel from 8 a.m., following us on the golf course and even when we went out for lunch.
“I’ve been on the very, very bad end of the media. I understand.
“No one is doing anything wrong with what has been filmed or photographed. It’s just making sure the boys are enjoying their tour of a great country like Australia.”
The previous Ashes tour of England in 2021-22 took place under Covid restrictions, which meant players were limited in what they could do away from cricket.
On Wednesday, England batsman Ollie Pope said: “Shutting your doors and not leaving your room is an unhealthy thing to do, as we saw during Covid times.”
Australian fast bowler Scott Boland said: “I’m quite a private person. I like to go home when I can and not have a camera in my face all the time.”
Asked whether the media attention was good for the game or crossed a line, Stokes replied: “A bit of both. My sponsors will be happy because I’m in the press every four days.”
“This will probably continue throughout the tour. I don’t see anything wrong with going out to the golf course or having coffee or lunch, riding a scooter.
“That’s OK. If they want to continue doing that, they’re all polite and don’t intrude on our personal space. We have a job to do, they have a job to do.”
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