The China Mail - 'Not a place for weak men': Stokes demands more from under-fire England

Two Tests into the five-match series and England are reeling, crashing by eight wickets in both Perth and Brisbane and waking Monday to yet more fierce criticism.

Facing an almost impossible task to win the last three Tests to regain the Ashes, Stokes wants to see more fire from his players.

"There is a saying that we have said a lot here -- Australia is not for weak men," Stokes told the BBC.

"A dressing room that I am captain of is not a place for weak men either."

Stokes was particularly critical of England crumbling in pressure moments, in contrast to Australia who have been able to dig deep and get the upper hand.

"Do we need to start thinking about what mentality we are taking into those pressure moments?" Stokes said.

"When we are on top we are great and when behind the game we are also very good but when that moment is neck and neck we are not coming out on top on enough occasions."

Australian media had a field day at England's expense with headlines including "Humiliated", "Humbled" and "Bazball in Ashes", referring to the aggressive style favoured by Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum that has failed so far.

Former England great Geoffrey Boycott was scathing in his assessment.

"Brisbane was a horror show: irresponsible batting, bowling too short, too wide or too full and catches dropped," he said in a newspaper column.

"With this sort of batting and bowling, they couldn't win an egg cup, let alone the Ashes urn."

- Beach break -

England have more than a week to regroup before the must-win third Test in Adelaide on December 17, where Australia are set to be strengthened by the return of skipper Pat Cummins.

But a scheduled four-day mini holiday on the beach at tourist playground Noosa after two crushing defeats may not be the best look.

Stokes defended the decision, saying it was important for players to decompress.

"We have been here four weeks and they have been pretty full on," he told reporters.

"As physical as this game is, a huge part of it is also the mental side of it. I know that. I have experienced that.

"I know what the game can do to you when things aren't quite feeling right or going well.

"Trust me when I say it is so, so important for teams to be able to go away as a team and almost put the pressures aside for a couple of days," he added.

Adding to England's woes, McCullum has been slammed for suggesting the team "trained too much" in the lead-up to the day-night clash in Brisbane.

Following the Perth defeat, England opted against putting their first-choice players into a pink-ball tour game in Canberra and instead had five intense sessions in the Brisbane nets.

"I actually feel like we over-prepared to be honest," he said.

"I think the boys just need a few days off and we probably need to change up a few of the training methods."

In response, England great Kevin Pietersen said on X: "Leading into this Test match, I think we over-prepared. Crikey, Baz," while Darren Gough added: "Over-prepared my arse."

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