‘No place for weak men in my dressing room,’ says Stokes after 2nd Ashes Test loss

England captain Ben Stokes has questioned his players’ mentality after suffering a crushing defeat from Australia in the second Ashes Test, saying his dressing room ‘is not a place for weak men’.

Michael Neser recorded career-best figures of 5-42 on Sunday as Australia cruised to an emphatic eight-wicket win over England in the day-night second Ashes Test in Brisbane for an ominous 2-0 lead in the series.

Set a paltry target of 65 for victory, Australia chased it down on the loss of two wickets with Steven Smith unbeaten on 23 and Jake Weatherald not out on 17.

Although not as humiliating as the two-day loss in the first Test at Perth, England were comprehensively outplayed in every department.

Australia are now the overwhelming favourite to retain the Ashes with matches in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney to follow.

Stokes said that his team’s problem is not down to skill; the real issue is that they are not capitalising on the key moments.

"Do we need to start thinking about what mentality we are taking into those pressure moments?" Stokes said.

"When we are on top we are great and when behind the game we are also very good but when that moment is neck and neck we are not coming out on top on enough occasions."

Stokes and Will Jacks offered resistance in the second inning of the second test; they put up a 96-run partnership, but England lost 4-17 after the latter was dismissed.

Stokes delivered a clear message to his players by saying that his dressing room is not for weak men.

"There is a saying that we have said a lot here - Australia is not for weak men," Stokes told BBC Test Match Special.

"A dressing room that I am captain of is not a place for weak men either."