Racing
League
Rugby
Cricket
Golf
Motorsport
Combat Sports
Football
Netball
Basketball
Other Sports
Sport Nation
How Stokes is becoming an "interesting study" following weak men comments
SEN • December 12th, 2025 7:51 pm
With Ben Stokes having declared that England’s dressing room “isn’t a place for weak men”, Robert Craddock has expressed his intrigue in the Englishman's change of approach.
Having lost the second Test by eight wickets, the English captain would make those comments, believing that they need to be strong-minded to avoid giving Australia an advantage over them.
After that press conference, it had led to plenty of speculation about who he could be referring to as England looks to avoid losing the Ashes with two Tests remaining.
With that in mind, the veteran sports journalist thinks that it could be in relation to Ollie Pope and Jofra Archer, with the possibility of Stokes moving up the order, which could see Pope out of the starting eleven.
“When Ben Stokes made that extraordinary line in his press conference about my dressing room is not a place for weak men, we all thought, ‘Gee, I wonder who he is talking about?’” Craddock explained on SENQ Breakfast.
“And the two that are under fire are Ollie Pope at No. 3 and Jofra Archer, the opening bowler.
“I was speaking with Steve Harmison, and he said, ‘I can understand everyone’s frustrations that Jofra Archer bowls 150kph some days and 134kph the next, but I don’t think his body is built to go to 150 all the time’.
“It’s frustrating, I wouldn’t be surprised if Stokes batted up the order.”
After Stokes made those comments, the veteran sports journalist also noted that this is the first time that he has seen the all-rounder "distance" himself from the team.
After Stokes made those comments, the veteran sports journalist also noted that this is the first time that he has seen the all-rounder "distance" himself from the team.
“He’s become a very interesting study,” he continued.
“Because this is the first time in his three and a half year tenure (as captain) that he has distanced himself from the team and called them out.
“Normally, he puts an arm around their shoulders and says it’s alright, we’ll get through this together.
“But not this time. He had enough after Brisbane; he was really infuriated with his team.”
The Third Test will take place at the Adelaide Oval on December 17, with SEN having LIVE coverage of every ball bowled through the SEN app and its radio network.
