‘Baz Bawl’: Australian media stoke Ashes rivalry with welcome for England’s Stokes

<ul><li><p>Captain labelled a ‘Cocky Complainer’ on arrival in Perth</p></li><li><p>Article critical of Stokes and McCullum’s positive tactics</p></li></ul><p>Australian media gave <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/nov/04/ben-stokes-signs-two-year-central-contract-cricket-ashes-2027">Ben Stokes </a>a scathing welcome to the country in the buildup to the Ashes. A picture of the England captain pushing a trolley laden with luggage at the airport was accompanied by the headline “Baz Bawl” on the front page of the West Australian newspaper.</p><p>“England’s Cocky Captain Complainer, still smarting from ‘crease-gate’, lands in Perth early thinking dopey “BazBall’ can take the Ashes,” read the subhead in reference to an incident in the last series when <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/jul/05/a-crease-a-stumping-and-spirit-of-the-game-the-ashes-controversy-explained">Jonny Bairstow was controversially stumped</a>. The article went on to criticise England’s tactics under Stokes and the head coach, Brendon McCullum, describing it as “carefree and careless thrash batting”.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/nov/05/baz-bawl-australian-media-ashes-rivalry-with-welcome-for-england-ben-stokes">Continue reading...</a>