England captain Ben Stokes says he is proud of the way his players “held firm” to win the fourth Ashes Test after a wave of criticism during the build-up to the match.
A failure to capitalise on good positions after they surrendered the Ashes inside only 11 days of cricket, questions over their preparation and attitude, plus off-the-field issues related to drinking are among the headlines to have blighted the tour.
But a pulsating four-wicket victory in the space of two days in Melbourne, in front of jubilant travelling supporters, meant England avoided the prospect of an Ashes clean sweep.
Stokes said he was “very proud” of the way his side reacted to secure victory at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, ending an 18-match winless streak in Australia.
“On the back of everything we had to deal with in this game, I couldn’t be prouder of the way we held firm as a group and as individuals as well,” Stokes told Test Match Special.
“You get tested as leaders within sporting teams and organisations in different ways.
“That was a test of character, a test of qualities of leadership. The way we went about it, not only in public, in terms of all the media and all that sort of stuff.”
Stokes said there was no sense from his players they had been distracted by the extra scrutiny following their controversial mid-series break in Noosa.
He said: “The way in which the leadership group – Baz [Brendon McCullum], myself, the other coaches and senior players – were able to keep as much focus as possible on the cricket was important.
“Once you do cross that line on to the field you put everything else to one side and your focus switches to what you need to do.
“It’s moments when you’re not on the field that things can start fluttering around in your head. I think the way we were able to keep that focus on the cricket was important in why we were able to get on the right side of the result.”
