Nasser Hussain says watching England captain Ben Stokes clearly reprimand some members of the team after the second Ashes Test reminded him of Jurgen Klopp’s management methods.
After last week’s 2-0 loss to Brisbane, England’s second heavy defeat in a five-match Test series opener, Stokes said his dressing room was “no place for a weak man”.
Stokes said in a separate interview that the players were not “weak”, but the captain appeared to have doubts about the team’s mentality.
Sky Sports pundit and former England captain Hussain analyzed England’s situation ahead of the start of the third Test in Adelaide on Tuesday, drawing comparisons to former Liverpool manager Klopp, whom he interviewed in a 2023 documentary.
“I remember doing a leadership documentary on Jurgen Klopp and talking about his management style and his relationship with his players, saying he’s their friend but not their best friend,” Hussain said on the latest episode of the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast.
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Australian radio station 92.7 Mix FM followed the England cricket team as they relaxed on the beach for a sledding trip, filmed by Ben Stokes in good spirits.
“What he’s trying to say is, ‘I’ll always be there for you until you feel like you’re letting me down. Then I’m not your friend anymore.'”
“That’s what I took away from that last Stokes press conference over there – I’ve been looking after you, supporting you and pushing you in this direction.”
“Honestly, there were times when he asked them to play (that way) and he went out and played that way.
“So he’s been leading them towards playing like this and now they’re not evaluating situations and handling pressure the way he handles pressure and evaluates conditions and situations perfectly. Some of them don’t.”
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Captain Ben Stokes insists England have not given up hope of winning the Ashes, but admits England could not withstand the pressure from Australia.
‘Thin options’ cause ‘problems’ for Stokes
England had the advantage in the first Test in Perth, but a batting collapse in the second of the match handed Australia victory within two days.
In Brisbane, a very disappointing defensive performance, including five dropped catches in Australia’s first innings, allowed the host team to build a large lead that could not be overturned.
Michael Atherton, Hussain’s fellow former England captain and co-host of the podcast, warned that the problem with Stokes potentially earning a place in the squad is the lack of viable options to replace them.
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As England prepare for a crucial third Test against Australia in Adelaide, Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton discuss Brendon McCullum’s claims that he was “overprepared” on the Sky Sports Cricket podcast.
“But the problem is, once they get to the point where they’re not performing and you say, ‘I’m no longer friends with you, I’m taking you out of the fold,’ your backup options are pretty slim,” Atherton said.
England’s number three batsman Ollie Pope’s place in the team has been debated in the media following the disappointing nature of his dismissal in the opening game, with Jacob Bethell appearing to be the most likely replacement.
Responding to Atherton’s concerns, Hussein said, “They’re thin (options). Either they rejig with Will Jacks or something, or Bethel comes in for a couple of runs.”
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