'Will Protect Them': Ben Stokes Stands by Players Amid Drinking Allegations After Ashes Debacle

Ashes 2025: Just after the infamous Noosa Trip came to light, England Cricket's managing director, Rob Key, assured fans a thorough investigation would be done. 

For the unversed, there were multiple reports that claimed that Ben Stokes and his players engaged in excessive drinking of alcohol in Noosa after the loss of the second Test. 

With all the scrutiny increasing by the hour off-the-field, Stokes himself realised he had to break silence on the snowballing issue as the tour is not over as yet. 

ALSO READ: England Open Probe After Reports Of 'Stag Do' And Booze-Fueled Conduct During Noosa Trip

Stokes Vows to Stand by His Players

Opting to shift the focus away from speculation, Stokes chose to maintain player welfare and unity in the team. 

Speaking ahead of the much-awaited Boxing Day Test, Stokes said how he handles his players from here is for him paramount at the moment. 

“How I handle this moment right now is the most important thing to me...The welfare of everyone in there and probably some certain individuals as well is the most important thing to me right now as England captain," Stokes said in the pre-match press conference.

He added: “I know how this kind of stuff can affect people, and my role as England captain is to protect my players as much as I possibly can."

Stokes also claimed that there is still unfinished business left and he would like to focus on that. 

England's Ashes Dud

It has been a forgetful Ashes series thus far for England. The Stokes-led side came to Australia with a lot of hope, but all of that has gone for a toss. 

With the Ashes already retained by Australia, all England can play for in the last two Tests is pride. They would surely like to salvage some of that in MCG and then SCG.