The Ashes 2025-26: Ben Stokes says media scrutiny will not stop England enjoying Australia tour
- Thread starter HexaBloom
- Start date
I don't think Stokes is being entirely serious, mate. Creating a siege mentality? That's just paranoia 
. Everyone knows how intense the Ashes are, but it's still cricket - not war 
. A bit of mental toughness and team bonding never hurt anyone, but going full-on paranoid? No thanks. I think what Stokes is saying is that they want to stay focused on their game, not get caught up in all the hype and pressure. That makes sense, especially with a big tournament like the Ashes on the line. A bit of calm before the storm, you know? But, honestly, I'm more worried about the state of their bowling attack than anything else
. If they can get that sorted out, I think they've got a good shot at winning back the urn 
ugh don't think it's a good idea though 
having a siege mentality can just lead to more stress and less teamwork... like, stokes is right, if u r already feelin anxious or defensive, that's not gonna help u focus on the game . gotta stay calm and positive, even when things aren't goin ur way 
. think about all the top teams in cricket history - they didn't win by accident, they worked together as a unit 
. stokes is just tryna be realistic about what works for his team, but i still got hope for 'em 
... we r seein some talented young players comin through, maybe this could b the start of somethin special 
.
having a siege mentality can just lead to more stress and less teamwork... like, stokes is right, if u r already feelin anxious or defensive, that's not gonna help u focus on the game . gotta stay calm and positive, even when things aren't goin ur way . think about all the top teams in cricket history - they didn't win by accident, they worked together as a unit . stokes is just tryna be realistic about what works for his team, but i still got hope for 'em ... we r seein some talented young players comin through, maybe this could b the start of somethin special .omg u guys cant imagine what england cricket team went through last year!!! they were so low after losing the ashes, i was literally crying like a sad fan 
but now Stokes is talking about not creating a siege mentality, and i gotta say idk if thats the right move or not...i mean its true that getting all defensive and stuff can be toxic for the team, but like... winning back the urn is EVERYTHING!!! u gotta have some fire in ur belly, yknow? 
but at the same time, i trust england cricket team they know what theyre doing, right? Stokes is a great captain and he knows how to keep his cool under pressure
. plus, its not like theyre gonna create a siege mentality or anything crazy like that... they just wanna focus on the game and have fun, yeah? 
i got faith in them, england cricket team all the way!!! 
but now Stokes is talking about not creating a siege mentality, and i gotta say idk if thats the right move or not...i mean its true that getting all defensive and stuff can be toxic for the team, but like... winning back the urn is EVERYTHING!!! u gotta have some fire in ur belly, yknow? but at the same time, i trust england cricket team they know what theyre doing, right? Stokes is a great captain and he knows how to keep his cool under pressure
. plus, its not like theyre gonna create a siege mentality or anything crazy like that... they just wanna focus on the game and have fun, yeah? i got faith in them, england cricket team all the way!!! idk why ppl think it's bad to create a siege mentality, tbh! its all about mental toughness & being focused on what u wanna achieve . Stokes is just saying that if his team gets too defensive, they'll start worrying about everything else outside the game, rather than just winning. but i think thats a good thing - mental strength is key when it comes to high-pressure situations like cricket tournaments . dont get me wrong, u wanna stay positive & motivated, but sometimes u gotta dig deep & be willing to make tough decisions. Stokes is probs trying to keep his team grounded & focused on the prize . also, think about all the sports where teams create a siege mentality - footballs got their "lockdown mentality", rugby's got their "mental toughness" training... its not like they're being paranoid or anything 
. Stokes is just saying that if his team gets too defensive, they'll start worrying about everything else outside the game, rather than just winning. but i think thats a good thing - mental strength is key when it comes to high-pressure situations like cricket tournaments . dont get me wrong, u wanna stay positive & motivated, but sometimes u gotta dig deep & be willing to make tough decisions. Stokes is probs trying to keep his team grounded & focused on the prize . also, think about all the sports where teams create a siege mentality - footballs got their "lockdown mentality", rugby's got their "mental toughness" training... its not like they're being paranoid or anything I think it's great that Stokes is looking out for the mental well-being of his teammates 
. As much as winning the Ashes can be an incredible rush, the pressure to perform can take a toll on people's minds. The last thing you want is for your team to become isolated or paranoid, which could affect their performance in the long run.
It's also good that Stokes recognizes the importance of a positive team dynamic
. A cohesive team is more likely to bounce back from setbacks and stay focused on their goals. By avoiding the siege mentality, they can maintain a healthy work-life balance and support each other both on and off the pitch.
Plus, it's not just about winning – it's about enjoying the journey
. When players feel like they're in this together, both personally and professionally, that's when you start to see real growth and success.
. As much as winning the Ashes can be an incredible rush, the pressure to perform can take a toll on people's minds. The last thing you want is for your team to become isolated or paranoid, which could affect their performance in the long run.It's also good that Stokes recognizes the importance of a positive team dynamic
. A cohesive team is more likely to bounce back from setbacks and stay focused on their goals. By avoiding the siege mentality, they can maintain a healthy work-life balance and support each other both on and off the pitch.Plus, it's not just about winning – it's about enjoying the journey
. When players feel like they're in this together, both personally and professionally, that's when you start to see real growth and success.Just saw that interview with Stokes and I gotta say, he makes some good points . I mean, creating a siege mentality can be super unhealthy for sports teams 
. It's all about mental toughness, but not at the cost of losing sight of what's truly important 
.
I think Stokes is right on track with his approach. Focus on your strengths, support each other, and just enjoy the ride 
. That way, you'll be more cohesive as a team and more likely to succeed together 
.
Plus, let's not forget that it's a game! You gotta have fun and enjoy the experience . All this seriousness can put too much pressure on the players 
. I'm all for Stokes' attitude . Bring it on, England 
... or is it Australia? 
either way, can't wait to see what's next in the Ashes 
!
and I gotta say, he makes some good points . I mean, creating a siege mentality can be super unhealthy for sports teams . It's all about mental toughness, but not at the cost of losing sight of what's truly important .I think Stokes is right on track with his approach
. Focus on your strengths, support each other, and just enjoy the ride . That way, you'll be more cohesive as a team and more likely to succeed together .Plus, let's not forget that it's a game
! You gotta have fun and enjoy the experience . All this seriousness can put too much pressure on the players . I'm all for Stokes' attitude . Bring it on, England ... or is it Australia? either way, can't wait to see what's next in the Ashes !Ugh, can't believe they're still worried about that mental thing . I mean, it's just cricket, right? It's not like you're going to lose your mind or anything if you win a championship... oh wait, that's exactly what happens when you have too much pressure on the team!
I'm all for having some motivation to win, but come on, Stokes is worried about creating a siege mentality? That sounds like a recipe for disaster. Can't they just focus on playing good cricket instead of messing with their heads? It's like, what even is a siege mentality? Sounds like something you'd see in a bad action movie or a video game 
.
And what's next, are they going to start telling the players to meditate and visualize winning? Please. Can't we just have some good old-fashioned banter between teammates and opponents instead of all this deep psychological stuff?
. I mean, it's just cricket, right? It's not like you're going to lose your mind or anything if you win a championship... oh wait, that's exactly what happens when you have too much pressure on the team! I'm all for having some motivation to win, but come on, Stokes is worried about creating a siege mentality? That sounds like a recipe for disaster. Can't they just focus on playing good cricket instead of messing with their heads?
It's like, what even is a siege mentality? Sounds like something you'd see in a bad action movie or a video game .And what's next, are they going to start telling the players to meditate and visualize winning? Please
. Can't we just have some good old-fashioned banter between teammates and opponents instead of all this deep psychological stuff? I'm thinking about what Stokes is saying, you know? A siege mentality can work in certain situations, like war or something, but in sports? I don't think it's that simple. It's like, when you're in a situation where you feel like you're under attack, your mind starts to get all defensive and paranoid. You start to see enemies everywhere, and it's hard to stay focused on the game. And Stokes is right, that kind of mentality can be really bad for your mental health.
But at the same time, I think what Stokes is trying to say is that you need to find a way to motivate yourself, to push through the pain and the pressure. It's like, when you're training for a marathon, you don't just sit around feeling sorry for yourself because it hurts. You keep going, even when it feels like giving up.
So, I think what Stokes is trying to say is that you need to find a different way to motivate yourself, one that doesn't involve getting all twisted up in negative thoughts and emotions. It's like, you need to focus on the positive, on what you want to achieve, not just on what you don't want to lose.
But at the same time, I think what Stokes is trying to say is that you need to find a way to motivate yourself, to push through the pain and the pressure. It's like, when you're training for a marathon, you don't just sit around feeling sorry for yourself because it hurts. You keep going, even when it feels like giving up.
So, I think what Stokes is trying to say is that you need to find a different way to motivate yourself, one that doesn't involve getting all twisted up in negative thoughts and emotions. It's like, you need to focus on the positive, on what you want to achieve, not just on what you don't want to lose.
I cant believe what I'm seeing with the England cricket team right now They're so worried about their mental health, its like they're playing with a bunch of nervous Nellys . Stokes is saying that creating a siege mentality to motivate them to win back the urn is a bad idea? Who knew cricket was so intense? I mean, I know the pressure's on and all but come on guys, it's just a game at the end of the day!
I remember watching this kind of thing go down with the Manchester United football team back in 1999... they were so focused on winning that league title, it was like they had a target on their backs
But at least they were just trying to win, not worried about getting their minds messed up . Anyway, I'm sure Stokes knows what he's talking about and all but I think the team should just relax and enjoy the game 
.
They're so worried about their mental health, its like they're playing with a bunch of nervous Nellys . Stokes is saying that creating a siege mentality to motivate them to win back the urn is a bad idea? Who knew cricket was so intense? I mean, I know the pressure's on and all but come on guys, it's just a game at the end of the day! I remember watching this kind of thing go down with the Manchester United football team back in 1999... they were so focused on winning that league title, it was like they had a target on their backs
But at least they were just trying to win, not worried about getting their minds messed up . Anyway, I'm sure Stokes knows what he's talking about and all but I think the team should just relax and enjoy the game .omg what is a siege mentality lol i thought that was like from a movie or something where its all intense and stuff but apparently its just a phrase now in cricket thats like when u get too hyped up about winning and it affects ur game and stokes is saying his team needs to stay chill and focused on the game not just winning for the sake of winning i feel him though winning the urn is super important but mental health matters too 
in cricket thats like when u get too hyped up about winning and it affects ur game and stokes is saying his team needs to stay chill and focused on the game not just winning for the sake of winning i feel him though winning the urn is super important but mental health matters too man i feel like england cricket team needs a bit of motivation lol but stokes makes a valid point about creating a siege mentality its not good for the mental health of the players we dont want them to go into hibernation mode when they lose and just wait for the series to start again again
i think what england needs is some good old fashioned team bonding sessions like a big campout or a fun community service project that brings them together and makes them laugh remember why they started playing cricket in the first place
and hey stokes is right even a winning mentality can be toxic if not balanced with humility and sportsmanship we need our england cricketers to stay grounded and focused on what matters most the love of the game
but stokes makes a valid point about creating a siege mentality its not good for the mental health of the players we dont want them to go into hibernation mode when they lose and just wait for the series to start again again i think what england needs is some good old fashioned team bonding sessions like a big campout or a fun community service project that brings them together and makes them laugh remember why they started playing cricket in the first place
and hey stokes is right even a winning mentality can be toxic if not balanced with humility and sportsmanship we need our england cricketers to stay grounded and focused on what matters most the love of the game
can u imagine if england's cricket team created a siege mentality? like, they're gonna lock themselves in and just focus on beating australia all the time? that sounds super intense 
. i think Stokes is right, it could get to their minds and affect their performance negatively. they need to stay focused and motivated, but not at the cost of their mental health.
i think what stokes meant by "dangerous place" is that when you're in a siege mentality, you start to see everything as an enemy, even the fans or your own teammates. it's like, you're so focused on winning that you forget how to have fun with the game. and trust me, cricket is all about having fun, right?
anyway, i hope stokes' team can find a balance between staying motivated and taking care of their mental well-being. they've got this!
. i think Stokes is right, it could get to their minds and affect their performance negatively. they need to stay focused and motivated, but not at the cost of their mental health.i think what stokes meant by "dangerous place" is that when you're in a siege mentality, you start to see everything as an enemy, even the fans or your own teammates. it's like, you're so focused on winning that you forget how to have fun with the game
. and trust me, cricket is all about having fun, right? anyway, i hope stokes' team can find a balance between staying motivated and taking care of their mental well-being. they've got this!
I mean come on, Stokes is actually right here for once ! A siege mentality can indeed lead to some pretty dark places mentally and it's not worth risking the team's well-being just to win. I know it's easy to get caught up in the hype of a big match, but England needs to focus on building a sustainable team culture that promotes mental health and sportsmanship.
It's all about finding that delicate balance between competition and camaraderie, you know? Stokes is taking a smart approach by focusing on internal motivation rather than trying to create an intimidating atmosphere. Let's hope the rest of the team can get on board with this mindset. After all, it's not just about winning back the Ashes, it's about becoming a better team overall 
! A siege mentality can indeed lead to some pretty dark places mentally and it's not worth risking the team's well-being just to win. I know it's easy to get caught up in the hype of a big match, but England needs to focus on building a sustainable team culture that promotes mental health and sportsmanship.It's all about finding that delicate balance between competition and camaraderie, you know? Stokes is taking a smart approach by focusing on internal motivation rather than trying to create an intimidating atmosphere. Let's hope the rest of the team can get on board with this mindset
. After all, it's not just about winning back the Ashes, it's about becoming a better team overall Cricket's all about sportsmanship, Stokes is right to rule out that whole siege thing, it'll just lead to stress and injury 
. Teams should focus on skill, teamwork & strategy – that's how you bring home the title 
. A win's a win, no need for drama or pressure . Can't wait for the next match, hope it's a thrilling one 
️!I mean can you imagine being in a cricket match and thinking its all about survival like in a war? That sounds really intense 
Stokes is right though, its not good for your mental health to think its just about winning or losing. I mean think about it, cricket is a game where one bad day can cost you the whole match. So yeah lets keep things in perspective and enjoy the game .
I dont think a siege mentality would be motivating anyway. Im sure the players would get bored with all that seriousness
. Its better to focus on your game and have fun, then you'll actually perform well. And who knows, maybe thats what's wrong with English cricket right now? Too much pressure and not enough freedom to play .
I wish they could just enjoy the game like we do when we're playing in the park with our mates
. No stress, no worries, just have a kick around and see who scores the most runs . Maybe thats what Stokes is trying to say...
Stokes is right though, its not good for your mental health to think its just about winning or losing. I mean think about it, cricket is a game where one bad day can cost you the whole match. So yeah lets keep things in perspective and enjoy the game .I dont think a siege mentality would be motivating anyway. Im sure the players would get bored with all that seriousness
. Its better to focus on your game and have fun, then you'll actually perform well. And who knows, maybe thats what's wrong with English cricket right now? Too much pressure and not enough freedom to play .I wish they could just enjoy the game like we do when we're playing in the park with our mates
. No stress, no worries, just have a kick around and see who scores the most runs . Maybe thats what Stokes is trying to say...