Ben Stokes explains why England didn’t share beer with Australia after The Ashes
Ben Stokes has explained that England had their customary post-match meet-up with Australia in a nightclub instead of at the Oval.
There was some slight confusion on Monday evening as it appeared the two sides failed to come together for their traditional drinks at the end of the latest series. Some reports claimed that the tourists had made a number of attempts to meet the England side, only to get a lukewarm response.
Australian players were spotted looking into the England dressing rooms after the end of the final Test. They eventually admitted defeat before leaving the ground at just before 11pm.
However, Stokes has now clarified that the hosts were delayed by extended retirement presentations in the dressing room and that the drinks did eventually take place. Taking to Twitter, he wrote: “To clarify…Our wrap took longer than expected because of multiple last time event’s. We decided to meet up in the night club rather than the dressing room.”
The reunion marks a stark turnaround in relations after Jonny Bairstow’s controversial dismissal during the second test drove a definite wedge between hosts and visitors. Brendon McCullum said at the time that he couldn’t “imagine we’ll be having a beer with them [Australia] any time soon”.
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That statement had reportedly left Andrew McDonald ‘disappointed’. Tensions though appear to have simmered down throughout the remainder of the series.
The final Test at the Oval represented a fantastic conclusion to what has been an encapsulating series. England’s win ensured that it would end as a draw and in the process saw Australia denied their first victory in the UK since 2001.
Ben Stokes and Pat Cummins after the fifth Ashes Test (Getty Images)What was your standout highlight of the Ashes? Share your thoughts in the comments below
Stokes has suggested that the entertainment on offer is a huge reason to suggest that Test cricket is still firmly alive and kicking. He said: “I genuinely believe this is what Test cricket needed. Every player in an England and Australia shirt is a massive advocate for Test cricket to stay alive.
"We have been very vocal about that being an objective in the way we play and I think this series has really done that. It has captivated so many new fans and attracted a new audience. Test cricket is the purest form and I absolutely love it.
"I hope this series has got it even bigger. Two high-quality teams going at it toe-to-toe has been something you couldn't take your eyes off. Every session has been its own game.
"I really hope we've inspired a new generation. I look back to 2005 and what that series did for me as a young person, and I really hope there's someone who's the age I was then who says: 'That's what I want to be doing'."
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