England cricket captain Ben Stokes found himself in a prickly pre-Test press conference, facing pointed questions from an Australian journalist about a minor off-field incident involving electric scooters.
Helmet controversy sparks tense exchange
The awkward moment unfolded on Wednesday ahead of the second Ashes Test in Brisbane. Stokes and three of his teammates had attracted criticism earlier in the week for riding e-scooters around the streets of Brisbane without wearing helmets.
This is considered a petty crime in Queensland, carrying a potential fine of $166. However, Queensland Police later dismissed any suggestion the international cricketers would be penalised.
Despite the police backing down, the Australian press continued to apply heat. A reporter directly asked Stokes if he acknowledged that riding without a helmet was the wrong thing to do.
"Next time we’re on a scooter, we will wear helmets," the England skipper flatly responded.
Stokes refuses to apologise, media manager steps in
Not satisfied, the journalist pressed further, asking if Stokes believed an apology was owed to Queenslanders. Stokes offered the exact same, clipped reply: "Next time we’re on a scooter, we’ll wear helmets."
When the reporter took one more dig, asking if he would make any further comment, an England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) media manager interjected. "No, we’re going to move on," the official stated, drawing a line under the questioning.
Stokes determined to enjoy Australian tour
Earlier, Stokes had made it clear that paparazzi-style scrutiny would not stop his team from enjoying their downtime in Australia. He told the BBC that if critics thought such attention would dampen their spirits, they were mistaken.
"Australia is the best country to tour away from cricket," Stokes said. "There are so many things to do. You can go out and about and see things that only Australia has to offer, great golf courses, coffee shops and easy places to have lunch."
He added a humorous, if slightly bleak, comparison to life back home, stating, "We are human. We need to enjoy countries when we get the opportunity because we live in England where it is miserable, freezing cold and dark at 4pm."
The incident highlights the intense spotlight on players during an Ashes series, where even minor off-field activities can become a major talking point in the buildup to a crucial Test match.
