'Everyone looks up to him': Brydon Carse praises Ben Stokes
What's the story
England pacer Brydon Carse heaped praise on captain, Ben Stokes, for his leadership qualities. The praise came after England offered a fightback with the ball on the opening day of the 2025-26 Ashes. Carse claimed the key wickets of Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja, before Stokes floored the Aussies by ripoing apart the lower-middle order. Stokes picked 5 wickets for 23 runs from his six overs (1 maiden). Here are further details.
Words
Stokesy kept it really simple, says Carse
Carse reflected on England's showing on Day 1 with the ball. "Stokesy kept it really simple," Carse said after the day's play, as per ESPNcricinfo. "We had 45-50 minutes before tea, and he said to the lads with the ball, just give everything. The way Gus Atkinson and Jofra [Archer] started was phenomenal. And then after tea, that messaging was pretty similar, just do it over a longer period of time."
Information
Carse on England's plan with the ball
Carse also said what England planned with the ball. "While the ball was still new, there was a lot of pace and bounce in it. And, we said as a group of bowlers, it was just about hitting the wicket as hard as we could."
Praise
Carse heaps praise on Stokes, call him phenomenal
Carse heaped praise on Stokes and called him phenomenal. "His character and enthusiasm around the group, and the way it goes about his business is phenomenal," Carse said. "Everyone looks up to him. He's a great leader to have in our team. He's been out here for the last two-and-a-half weeks, and as Ducky [Ben Duckett] said a couple of weeks ago, he's in beast mode at the moment. Hopefully that pays off throughout the series for him."
Summary
19 wickets fall on Day 1 in Perth Test
As many as 19 batters were dismissed on a blockbuster Day 1 of the opening Ashes Test at Perth's Optus Stadium. Mitchell Starc claimed a career-best seven wickets as England were folded for 172 while batting first. In response, Australia also lost wickets in a cluster to end the day at 123/9. Five of these wickets went to Stokes.