'The most competitive beast' - David Saker hails Ben Stokes after tireless day one effort of third NRMA Insurance men’s Ashes Test
Published 17/12/2025 at 15:22 GMT
England's bowlers made a strong start to the third NRMA Insurance men’s Ashes Test, with Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse, Will Jacks and Josh Tongue all taking wickets. Captain Ben Stokes did not secure an Australian scalp on day one but continued to bowl until the end of the day. Bowling coach David Saker has praised Stokes' competitive nature and how Archer proved his critics wrong in Adelaide.
Highlights: England star in the field but Carey century gives Australia hope on Day One
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After a long day in a baking hot field in Adelaide, England captain Ben Stokes continued to put himself forward to run in at the Australian batters on day one of the third NRMA Insurance men’s Ashes Test.
He delivered 19 overs, one less than spinner Will Jacks but more than any of the other fast bowlers.
Stokes was not rewarded with a wicket but his team is well-placed going into day two having got rid of eight opposing batters - leaving Australia on 326-8.
Speaking to TNT Sports about Stokes’ desire to put the responsibility on his own shoulders game after game, England bowling coach David Saker said: "He’s a dangerous one to try and pull back. He’s just so competitive.
"He’s the most competitive beast I can remember playing the game. Players just gravitate around him and people jump on his back and that’s the way he leads.
"Sometimes he gets too engrossed in his performance but he’s a fantastic leader and I would’ve loved to have played under him."
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'England are on fire!' - Australia rocking in dream over to kick off second session
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Reflecting on the opening day in Adelaide, Saker said: "I thought it was a good performance from our bowlers.
"It’s never easy day one in Adelaide and the heat, also, took us by a bit of a surprise at 8 o’clock this morning. The boys toiled away and I thought it was a really good effort."
Jofra Archer was the pick of the England bowlers with three wickets to his name for just 29 runs conceded.
He has come under fire at times during the series and clashed with Australia’s Steve Smith in Brisbane after upping the speed of his deliveries with the game already firmly heading towards victory for the hosts.
"I think he had a point to prove, I thought he sustained his pace really well today, and he really attacked the stumps well," Saker said.
"I thought it was a good performance from him but I thought it was backed up by everyone."
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Tongue bowls Inglis to break Australian resistance
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England are 2-0 down in the series and must win in Adelaide to have any chance of winning the famous urn.
Even a draw in the third Test will see Australia retain the trophy for another two years.
Asked what they have tried to change from a bowling point of view between the second and third Tests, Saker said: "We haven’t really panicked. We think we’ve had stints where we’ve been really good.
"We know what we needed to do. We need to get the ball in a really good area, a challenging area for long periods of time.
"It’s not rocket science, bowling, it’s about getting the ball in the right areas enough times.
"These guys are skillful bowlers, they’ve got some good pace but we just mixed our lengths up too much in Brisbane and we got back to a pretty good length today. I thought we were really threatening for long periods of time.
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Archer strikes in first ball after lunch
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"The intent and the energy on a hot day, even right at the back end of the game, the boys were still buzzing around. That’s pretty impressive from our boys.
"The game’s probably pretty even. We would’ve liked to have knocked them over. If we were batting tonight, we would’ve won the day but that’s cricket and we keep moving on," Saker said.
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