Former England all-rounder Ian Botham has reignited his public feud with Ben Stokes, calling the former England captain a “stupid boy” and criticizing his conduct during the Ashes tour of Australia. Botham also took a sarcastic swipe at Stokes through a dedication in his latest book.
The disagreement between the two England greats began when Botham questioned the team’s preparation for the Ashes ahead of their tour last year. Stokes defended the squad’s approach and referred to former players as “has-beens”. England subsequently lost the series 4-1 to Australia.
Ian Botham Criticizes Ben Stokes Over Ashes Preparation
Ian Botham criticized England’s preparations for the Ashes after the team planned to play only one warm-up match before travelling to Australia. He stated that the lack of matches reflected arrogance and could leave the players underprepared for the series.
“You have got to give yourself the chance,” Botham said while questioning the team’s decision. Stokes, who was England’s captain at the time, responded by referring to former players as “has-beens” who did not understand how the modern game had changed.
“There are quite a few factors that play into why we can’t prepare how the has-beens maybe prepared in the past,” Stokes said. “The landscape of cricket has changed and that affects preparation.”
Ian Botham Calls Stokes a ‘Stupid Boy’ Over Noosa Visit
England’s 4-1 defeat in Australia brought further scrutiny of the team’s conduct during the tour. Reports of drinking sessions at Noosa, a popular beach resort in Queensland, drew criticism, particularly after England lost the first two matches.
Speaking to The Times Magazine, Ian took aim at Ben Stokes over the team’s visit to the resort. Although he acknowledged the all-rounder’s talent, he questioned the decision to celebrate during a difficult Ashes campaign.
“Stupid boy. I will mention him only briefly because his self-indulgence isn’t something I enjoy,” Botham said. He added: “He is a good player. A great player. But to say that and then lose, it has backfired, hasn’t it?”
Botham also criticised the players’ reported drinking sessions, saying: “Really? They were p****d as rats. Look, if you want a drink, don't go to the high street. We used to go to wineries.”
Ben Stokes Fires Back After Ian Botham’s Retirement Jibe
Ben Stokes announced his retirement from international cricket on June 28 during the fourth day of the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge. The announcement brought his 15-year international career to an end.
Ian Botham later mocked Stokes during an appearance on Test Match Special, referring to their earlier disagreement over the “has-beens” remark. He said: “As we know, Michael Vaughan and I, we don't know what we're talking about. Couple of old has-beens.”
Addressing Stokes directly, Botham added: “Ben, if you're listening, congratulations, you've joined the club – you're now a has-been.”
Botham also dedicated his latest book to Stokes in a sarcastic reference to their feud, writing: “This is for you, Ben. Welcome to the has-beens club.”
Stokes responded on X by turning one of Botham’s own quotes against him: “The quote 'it's better to be a has-been than a never-been' originates from Lord Ian Botham.”
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