England captain Ben Stokes remained tight-lipped about his fitness and team selection during a media conference in Western Australia, just nine days before the first Ashes Test. Stokes offered only one-word responses when asked about his physical condition, saying 'yep' when pressed on whether he could bowl sustained overs.
Stokes also refused to reveal plans for fast bowlers Mark Wood and Jofra Archer, who have been key in past Ashes series. Wood turned the 2023 series in England's favor, while Archer famously battled Steve Smith in 2019. Stokes described both as 'flying' in training but would not confirm if they would play together in Perth or be on managed loads.
When questioned about England's preparation, which includes only one warm-up match against the English Lions at Lilac Hill, Stokes dismissed criticism. He said cricket has evolved and that the team has been preparing for the series for a long time. 'I don't really know what we’re supposed to do, to be honest,' Stokes added, noting the packed schedule and recent matches in New Zealand.
