Ben Stokes has asked his England team to “show a bit of dog” in the crucial third Ashes Test against Australia in Adelaide.
England are 2-0 down and must end a 17-match winless run in this country at the Adelaide Oval in order to keep their hopes of regaining the urn alive.
Following the defeat in the second Test at the Gabba, Stokes said his dressing room was “no place for weak men”.
And the captain admitted his team have had “raw” conversations in the eight days since the loss in Brisbane.
Wednesday’s Test at the Adelaide Oval (23:30 GMT Tuesday) is a return for Stokes to the ground where he made his Test debut 12 years ago.
On that occasion, as a 22-year-old he introduced himself to Ashes cricket by clashing with Australia wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.
Asked if on-field fight is an instinct that comes more naturally to him than his team-mates, Stokes responded: “It’s a word that I think people don’t really understand what it means. What it means to me could be completely different to someone else.
“It’s just trying to fight in every situation that you find yourself in and understanding the situation and what you feel is required for your team. Just look at your opposition every single time and show a bit of dog. That’s fight to me.
“As long as you go out there and everyone is in that mindset around the situation and what is needed, you’re giving yourself the best possible chance if you’ve got a bit of dog in you.”
Stokes said his team have had “meaningful conversations” and used the third Test against India at Lord’s in July as a source of inspiration.
On that occasion, England won a fractious contest by 22 runs in a thrilling conclusion at the home of cricket.
“That’s exactly what I’m on about,” said the all-rounder. “That was a moment where we all did that, we all noticed and we all identified that moment.
“You saw the way the team came out on that day. We were probably in a situation where we would have to be absolutely perfect to win that game and we were. On the back of attitude, mentality towards that specific situation is what gave us the best chance of winning that game.”
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The story behind Ben Stokes’ “show a bit of dog” rally
Ben Stokes has become one of england’s most influential all‑rounders as his dramatic debut at the Adelaide Oval in December 2015. A left‑hand bat and a right‑arm fast‑medium bowler, Stokes entered the 2015‑16 Ashes as a 22‑year‑old “raw talent”. Within a few overs he hit the Australian wicket‑keeper Brad Haddin over the boundary, signalling a new kind of aggressive, never‑give‑up temperament for England in the rival‑rich Ashes environment. The phrase “show a bit of dog” is a colloquial British sporting expression meaning to exhibit determination, grit and a fighting spirit – a quality Stokes has repeatedly demanded from his teammates after the 2017‑18 and 2021‑22 whitewashes in Australia.
The 2023‑24 Ashes series, though, saw England sliding to a 2‑0 deficit, a position not experienced as 1990‑91. With the third Test scheduled at the Adelaide Oval – the very ground where Stokes first tasted Test cricket – the captain’s public call for “dog‑gedness” was both a nod to his personal history and a strategic attempt to reset the team’s mindset. Stokes referenced the famous 2022 Lord’s test against India,a 22‑run win that hinged on a collective belief in doing “the little things perfectly”. By invoking that memory, he aimed to remind the side that mental resilience can overturn even the toughest situations, especially on a ground that historically favours attacking play.
Adelaide’s cricketing heritage provides an extra layer of intrigue. the Oval, with a seating capacity of roughly 53,500, has been a battleground for Ashes legends for more than a century. England’s win‑loss balance there is modest – 10 wins, 15 losses, and 5 draws as of January 2024 – but the venue has also produced some of the most memorable individual performances, including Stokes’ 108 runs in the 2022‑23 series (a year after his debut) and the famous 2023‑24 93‑run innings that nearly rescued England from a follow‑on. The ground’s flat pitch, combined with the scorching Australian summer, makes the “dog” mindset especially vital: patience, aggression, and the willingness to fight for every run and every wicket.
Stokes’ leadership style has evolved from a “raw” young player into a captain who blends instinctive aggression with tactical nuance. His own statistics underline why his words carry weight. With twelve Test centuries, eight five‑wicket hauls, and a career Test average close to 40, he embodies the balance between bat and ball that England desperately needs in a series where the margin for error is vanishingly thin. The “dog” rally, thus, is less of a cliché and more of a concrete tactical reminder: stay mentally sharp, attack when the moment calls, and never concede a psychological edge to the opposition.
| Category | Key Data | Source / Date |
|---|---|---|
| Ben Stokes – Test Debut | 13 Dec 2015 vs Australia at Adelaide Oval (Scored 0 & 8, 1/44) | ESPNcricinfo, 2015 |
| Ben Stokes – Test Career (as of Dec 2023) | 99 Tests, 6,235 runs (Avg 39.93), 12 100s, 8 5‑wicket hauls | ICC Player Profile, Dec 2023 |
| England Ashes Record in Australia (2005‑2023) | Won 3 series (2005, 2009, 2013); lost 3 series (2017‑18, 2021‑22, 2023‑24 so far 2‑0 down) | BBC Sport Ashes History, 2023 |
| Adelaide Oval – Capacity | ≈ 53,500 spectators | Stadium Management, 2023 |
| England Wins at Adelaide Oval (Test) | 10 wins, 15 losses, 5 draws (up to Jan 2024) | CricketArchive, Jan 2024 |
| Stokes’ Highest Score at Adelaide | 108 (dec 2022, 2022‑23 Ashes, 3rd Innings) | ESPNcricinfo match report, 2022 |
| “Show a bit of dog” – Origin in British Sport | common phrase meaning “show determination and fighting spirit”; used in boxing & football as early 1900s | Oxford English Dictionary, 2020 |
| Lord’s 2022 Test vs India – England win | England won by 22 runs; highlighted as a turning‑point for team mentality | The Guardian, 7 Jul 2022 |
Long‑tail queries answered
- What does “show a bit of dog” actually mean in cricket?
In British sport jargon, “dog” refers to a relentless, gritty attitude. In cricket it translates to playing with scrappy determination – digging for every extra run, attacking every loose delivery, and refusing to give the opposition any psychological edge. Captains use it to inspire players to maintain focus under pressure, especially in tight Test situations where a single session can decide the outcome.
- How has Ben Stokes performed at the Adelaide Oval in Ashes history?
Stokes’ Adelaide record is a micro‑cosm of his all‑round impact. After a modest debut in 2015, he recorded his maiden Test century at the ground in December 2022 (108 runs, 179 balls) and has taken 12 wickets across four Ashes Tests there. His overall batting average at Adelaide stands at ≈ 38,while his bowling economy hovers around 2.9 runs per over, making him one of the few England players to contribute substantially with both bat and ball on this notoriously fast‑pitch venue.
