Brisbane, Australia – England captain Ben Stokes has questioned the mentality of his side after a crushing eight-wicket defeat to Australia in the second Test of the 2025-26 Ashes series, declaring that his dressing room is “not a place for weak men.” The loss leaves England 2-0 down in the five-match series, with the team struggling to capitalize on crucial moments in high-pressure situations.

Stokes, who scored 50 off 152 balls in a valiant but ultimately futile resistance on the final day at the Gabba, stressed that England’s problems are not about skill, but mindset.

“Do we need to start thinking about what mentality we are taking into those pressure moments?” Stokes said. “When we are on top we are great and when behind the game we are also very good but when that moment is neck and neck we are not coming out on top on enough occasions.”

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England’s Mentality Under the Microscope

The defeat has amplified questions about England’s ability to perform under pressure. Stokes repeated his “weak” message in multiple interviews, highlighting a recurring theme in recent Test matches where the team has failed to close out games.

“There is a saying that we have said a lot here – Australia is not for weak men,” Stokes told BBC Test Match Special. “A dressing room that I am captain of is not a place for weak men either.”

Former England captain Michael Vaughan supported Stokes’ stance, remarking that the team needs to brace for tough lessons in mentality and resilience.

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Recent Struggles Highlight Pressure Moments

England’s recent failures under pressure are not isolated to this series:

• Against India at The Oval, England were 73 runs from victory with seven wickets remaining but lost by six runs.
• In the first Ashes Test in Perth, England were 105-1 in the second innings but lost five wickets for 38 runs.
• At the Gabba, England reached 90-1 in the second innings, only to collapse to 128-6, with key dismissals of Ollie Pope and Zak Crawley proving decisive.

Stokes highlighted that such pressure moments have been a persistent issue dating back to previous Ashes campaigns and summer series.

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Stokes Defends Team Break to Noosa

Amid criticism of England’s preparation, Stokes defended the squad’s upcoming four-day break in Noosa, describing it as essential for mental and physical recovery.

“We have been here for five weeks and it’s been pretty full-on on the field and off the field,” Stokes said. “A huge part of this game is the mental side. When teams get an opportunity to go away together and reset, it is incredibly important.”

Coach Brendon McCullum also defended the preparation strategy, noting that England may have “trained too much” ahead of the second Test. He stressed the importance of seizing opportunities and staying sharp across batting, bowling, and fielding.

“Clearly our catching was an issue as well. It is very hard to beat Australia at home if you are deficient in all three areas,” McCullum said.

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Looking Ahead to the Third Test

With 10 days until the third Ashes Test in Adelaide, England now face the challenge of regrouping and overcoming both form and confidence issues. The squad will train in Adelaide after their planned break, aiming to regain composure, sharpen skills, and improve decision-making under pressure.

Stokes remains confident in the team’s ability to fight back, citing England’s historic resilience in previous Ashes series, including the 2023 series where they recovered from 2-0 down to draw 2-2.

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Key Takeaways

• Captain: Ben Stokes
• Team: England cricket team, 2025-26 Ashes
• Score: Australia 2 – England 0 (after second Test, Brisbane)
• Issue: Mental toughness and pressure-point performance
• Next Test: Third Ashes Test, Adelaide, starting December 16, 23:30 GMT
• Team Strategy: Four-day break in Noosa, training and mental reset