England captain Ben Stokes has delivered a blunt rallying cry ahead of the must-win third Ashes Test against Australia at the Adelaide Oval, urging his side to “show a bit of dog” after what he described as raw and uncomfortable conversations following two heavy defeats. England’s Ashes campaign is already on the brink.

Comprehensive eight-wicket losses in Perth and Brisbane have left the visitors 2–0 down in the five-Test series, extending their winless run in Australia to 17 matches. Another defeat in Adelaide would not only seal the series but also deepen the scars of a tour that has so far exposed England’s fragility under sustained pressure.

While there has been little upheaval in selection — Josh Tongue replacing Gus Atkinson being the only change, with Will Jacks preferred over Shoaib Bashir — Stokes made it clear that mindset, not personnel, is the real issue. Speaking ahead of the Adelaide Test, the England skipper stressed that honest, behind-the-scenes conversations had already taken place after the Gabba loss.

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“We don’t do gimmicks or big presentations,” Ben Stokes said. “We have proper, meaningful conversations. What needed to be said has been said. I’ve done all the talking I needed to over the last couple of days. Now it’s about what we show on the field.”

Stokes’ now-famous comment that Australia is “no place for weak men” underlined the intensity of those discussions. Former England captain Alastair Cook recently described Stokes as the most competitive cricketer he has ever seen, and the all-rounder wants that same edge to run through the entire squad.

“For me, it’s about fighting in every situation,” Ben Stokes explained. “You look at your opposition and you show a bit of dog. That’s what fight means.”

Hostile Australian crowds and unfamiliar conditions have compounded England’s struggles. Only a handful of players in the current squad had previous Ashes experience Down Under, something Stokes admits initially caught the group off guard.

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“Honestly, yes,” he said. “But now everyone’s experienced it. For the next three games, there can’t be any surprises.”

With the series on the line, England must now translate words into action. Adelaide represents a final chance to show resilience, competitiveness, and character — qualities Stokes believes are essential if England are to avoid another Ashes whitewash on Australian soil.