England captain Ben Stokes has been dubbed a “cheeky complainer” by Australian media as he arrived in Perth ahead of the first Ashes Test.
A photo of Stokes pushing a trolley full of luggage at the airport was featured on the front page of The West Australian with the caption “Buzz Bawl”.
“England’s cocky captain Craner, still stuck in the ‘crease gate’, lands in Perth thinking his goofy ‘buzz ball’ could take the Ashes at an early stage,” the subheading reads, referring to Jonny Bairstow’s controversial and embarrassing incident in the previous series.
The article further criticized England’s tactics under Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum as “carefree, careless slashing batting”.
Australia have announced their squad for the first Test in Perth starting on November 21, with Marnus Labuschagne recalled, captain Pat Cummins out injured and three uncapped players Jake Weatherald, Sean Abbott and Brendan Doggett called up.
Atherton: A Cold Classic
Sky Sports’ Michael Atherton called the headline a “stone cold classic”, but was adamant that England’s players and captain expected this kind of treatment and would be prepared for it.
“That was a cold classic for Western Australia headlines,” former England captain Atherton told Sky Sports News.
“I like the fact that it started with New Zealand-born Ben Stokes and had all the classic attacking lines in it.
“It doesn’t matter, every team and captain in England understands that when you’re there, but there seems to be something about Buzz Ball that’s uniquely Australian.
“Stuart Broad suffered the brunt of the Brisbane Courier’s refusal to have his likeness published in the newspaper.
“So it’s all natural and it’s a lot of fun. England just have to prove themselves.”
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England coach Tim Southee believes Australia has never had a bad cricket team but admits they are going through a difficult period
Former England paceman Stuart Broad has sparked an Ashes war of words by hitting back at former Australian opener David Warner, who sledged early on the tourists in October.
Mr Broad declared the Baggy Greens the “worst” team he had seen in over a decade.
“It takes a cricketer of a certain personality to do well in Australia because it’s a tough tour for all sorts of reasons,” Atherton added.
“Cricket is tough, but so is everything involved in it. This is a very high profile, intense series and we need cricketers of character to stand up to it.
“Stokes is obviously one of those players who has seen throughout his career that Broad is the same cricketer who did well there.
“As I recall, the last time the Stokes were in Australia, at one stage in Western Australia one of the Stokes in a nappy threw up a dummy.
“It’s all a bit of fun, it’s natural and it’s not something that should cause any cricketers traveling in England to worry too much.
“They know that and they expect it. In the end it will also come down to what happens on the pitch.”
Australia’s first Ashes Test team: Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster.
Ashes Series in Australia 2025-26
always UK and Ireland
First Test: Friday 21st November – Tuesday 25th November (2.30am) – Optus Stadium, Perth Second Test (day/night): Thursday 4th December – Monday 8th December (4.30am) – The Gabba, Brisbane Third Test: Wednesday 17th December – Sunday 21st December (12am) – Adelaide Oval Fourth Test: Thursday 25th December – Monday 29th December (11.30pm) – Melbourne Cricket Ground Fifth Test: Sunday 4th January – Thursday 8th January (11.30pm) – Sydney Cricket Ground
