Ben Stokes suffering without 'lieutenants' in his England side, says Matt Prior - 'Who are the other guys?'
Published 07/12/2025 at 11:27 GMT
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Former England wicketkeeper Matt Prior believes that Ben Stokes and Joe Root take on more of the burden than they should when they play for their country. After the second defeat to Australia in the NRMA Insurance men's Ashes series, Prior called on players such as Ollie Pope to step up, amid praise for Stokes' willingness to face the media and protect his team.
'You need four, five or six - not one' - Prior blasts lack of England leaders
Video credit: TNT Sports
Ex-England keeper Matt Prior believes that there needs to be more to the current England side than just "Ben Stokes and Joe Root" and called for "four, five or six" senior players to take more responsibility.
Australia reached 69-2 to win the second NRMA Insurance men's Ashes Test by eight wickets on Sunday morning in Brisbane, as the first pink-ball match of the series came to a close.
The visitors now trail 2-0 and look in need of serious changes if they are to fight back during the trip.
Speaking afterwards, Prior responded to Stokes’ candid interview on TNT Sports by saying he found England’s captain inspiring.
He said: "Not many times have I thought I want to get my kit on and play again, but how can you not stand next to Ben Stokes and think, 'I want to be in your team, I want to be on your side, I want to fight for you?’
"It's just his passion, his presence. It's like, 'Tell me what to do, and I'll do it. Whatever you want, I'm in, and I'll follow you, 100%'."
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He added that Stokes had shown leadership by being willing to face the media when other players might not have done the same.
"The other thing is, he didn't have to do press tonight," Prior continued. "I guarantee you that would have been a Ben Stokes decision to say, 'I'm the captain, I'm going to front up, and I'm going to speak to the press, tell them how I feel, and own this situation'.
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"The boys are in the dressing room, saying, 'Ben Stokes is out there, fronting up for us. We need to step up now and support our captain, and get behind our captain'."
Prior also suggested that there are not enough players beyond Stokes and Root who are able or willing to stamp their authority on proceedings.
Instead, he thinks that the captain and former leader are shouldering too much of the burden.
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Prior, a 2010/11 Ashes winner, said: "I watched that fielding unit and there were two guys out there. There was Ben Stokes and there was Joe Root. Joe Root is one guy. He can't score all the runs, and he can't be the only one apologising to Ben Stokes.
"By the same token, Ben Stokes can't be the only one who gets the wickets, takes the ball. When it’s boiling hot, they’ve been in the field all day. He’s the guy, every single time.
"But you look around. I'm a big believer that your coach, your captain, need lieutenants. Not one. You need three, four or five. Who in that dressing room right now wants to step up? Harry Brook? Not just your runs, but when you're in the field.
"You've got a young wicketkeeper [Jamie Smith]. You can't rely on him, although he does need to step up. You're the wicketkeeper and you're playing the Ashes.
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England were 'not able to stand up to pressure' of Ashes Test - Stokes
Video credit: TNT Sports
"Who are the other guys now, the senior players, the lieutenants?Â
"What about Ollie Pope? Get involved, get in the game. 60 [63] Test matches. Be there. When you're in the dirt and Australia are getting in front, that's not the time to disappear. Not just Ben Stokes and Joe Root. There's two of them. There needs to be four, five or six.
"I did not see enough cricketers getting in the battle and choosing to stay in the battle for a concerted amount of time."
Watch every ball of the Ashes live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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