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In that dizzying summer of 2022, the Bazball vibes breathed life into an England Test team that could not win on the field and were weary of Covid restrictions off it.<\/p>\n
Now the accusation is that England have become too chill. You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain.<\/p>\n
England have unravelled despite, and because, of the approach of Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum.<\/p>\n
New Zealander McCullum, a fan of the All Blacks’ famous ‘no dickheads’ policy, signed off on the trip to Noosa and all the risks it entailed.<\/p>\n
The policy was designed by mental skills coach Gilbert Enoka to allows players to police themselves. Enoka has worked with England<\/a> under McCullum. <\/p>\n Stokes has seen the worst side of media scrutiny, following the 2017 incident outside a Bristol nightclub<\/a> that cost him a place on the subsequent Ashes tour.<\/p>\n “I have first-hand experience of how this can affect people,” said Stokes. “My role as England captain is to protect my players as much as I possibly can.”<\/p>\n It is a fair and admirable stance to take. Maybe it has come too late.<\/p>\n England have faced some unfair allegations on this Ashes tour. Former Australia pace bowler Mitchell Johnson labelled them “arrogant”, which Stokes was right to knock back.<\/a><\/p>\n But Stokes’ men have been careless, loose and downright dopey. They knew the traps they could fall into in Australia – director of cricket Rob Key warned them<\/a> not to do anything “stupid” back in September.<\/p>\n History has repeated itself. On the Ashes tour eight years ago, there was the Jonny Bairstow ‘headbutt’ controversy<\/a> and Ben Duckett tipping a beer<\/a> over James Anderson. It led to local media asking Moeen Ali, a practising Muslim, if he will be able to stay out of the pub.<\/p>\n At the end of the 2021-22 tour, a video emerged of a drinking session involving players from both sides having to be broken up by police.<\/p>\n Even without off-field distractions, touring Australia is hard. England’s record in this country this century is played 33, lost 26, won four and drawn three.<\/p>\n Of the four wins, three came in a single series when England lifted the urn in Australia for the only time in the past 39 years.<\/p>\n In the team were England’s greatest opener, their two all-time leading Test wicket-takers, their best spinner of the past 40 years and possibly the most talented batter to ever play for the country. Three players in the squad have been knighted.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n