'I F****G Love cricket, I F****G love this team': Ben Stokes hits back at critics

England Test captain Ben Stokes has delivered an impassioned defence of his leadership and commitment to the national side, declaring his unwavering love for the game, the squad and the captaincy in the wake of a bruising 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia.

In a candid Instagram post, Stokes described the past three months as the hardest stretch of his tenure at the helm, admitting the series loss had tested him “in so many different ways.” Yet the 31-year-old all-rounder, appointed to the role in 2022, insisted he remains more motivated than ever to drive the team forward alongside head coach Brendon McCullum and managing director Rob Key, both of whom retain the full backing of the England and Wales Cricket Board.

“Being England captain is the greatest honour a player can be given and I do not take it for granted,” Stokes wrote. “It has its highs and it has its lows, it makes you want to smile it makes you want to cry. It completely and utterly consumes you and feels like it’s the only thing in your life at times.”

The skipper’s emotional message comes amid mounting scrutiny over England’s preparation and tactics during the Ashes campaign. A lack of meaningful warm-up fixtures left the tourists undercooked for Australian conditions, while the once-lauded “Bazball” approach faltered badly after a heavy defeat in Perth, exposing the absence of a credible Plan B.

Off-field issues have also surfaced. A Telegraph report cited dressing-room concerns that McCullum’s easy-going culture—centred on shared rounds of golf, beers and vaping—unintentionally fostered a clique that became more divisive as losses mounted. Some players believe the relaxed environment ultimately cost them a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reclaim the urn on Australian soil.

In response, the ECB has introduced a midnight curfew for future tours and is searching for a new national selector after Luke Wright stepped down for family reasons.

Stokes, however, rejected any suggestion that his appetite for the job has diminished. “I F*****G love cricket, I F*****G love this team, I F*****G love being England captain and I have got so much more to give to this role,” he posted. “I’m so happy that I get to do it with Baz and Rob.”

The captain conceded mistakes were made but argued setbacks provide the clearest lessons. “We know we made mistakes along the way and we have learnt from those mistakes—you learn more from failure than success,” he said, adding that the leadership trio will “give everything we have” to restore pride.

England’s next red-ball assignment begins at home in June, when Stokes hopes to repay supporters with performances that rekindle national pride. “We do what we do for many reasons, but one of those reasons is to bring our supporters and fans happiness and a sense of pride,” he said. “See you all in June for the start of the Test Match summer.”

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