The inability to capitalize on good positions after they surrendered the Ashes in just 11 days of cricket, doubts over their preparation and attitude, plus off-field problems related to drink, were among the headlines that blighted the tour.
Advertisement
But a pulsating four-wicket victory in the space of two days in Melbourne, in front of jubilant traveling supporters, meant England avoided the prospect of a clean sweep of the Ashes.
Stokes said he was “very proud” of the way his team reacted to secure victory at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, ending an 18-match winless streak in Australia.
“Despite everything we had to deal with in this game, I couldn’t be prouder of the way we held our own as a group and also as individuals,” Stokes told Test Match Special.
“You test yourself as a leader within sports teams and organizations in different ways.
Advertisement
“That was a test of character, a test of leadership qualities. The way we did it, not just in public, in terms of all the media and all that kind of stuff.”
Stokes said there was no sense in his players that they had been distracted by the extra scrutiny following their controversial mid-series break in Noosa.
He said: “The way the leadership group – Baz (Brendon McCullum), myself, the other senior coaches and players – were able to keep as much focus on the cricket as possible was important.
“Once you cross that line on the field, you put everything else aside and your focus shifts to what you need to do.
Advertisement
“There are times when you’re not on the field when things can start spinning around in your head. I think the way we were able to maintain that focus on cricket was important because we were able to get on the right side of the result.”
‘We’ve finally won one’
Prior to this victory, Stokes had played 12 Tests in Australia without tasting victory, while his England teammate Joe Root’s streak stood at 17.
Both Stokes and Root are 34 years old and this is likely to be their last Ashes tour of Australia.
Stokes said it was an “amazing feeling” to cross the line at the MCG and reflected that the win “means a lot” to both of them.
Advertisement
“I’ve been on a couple of tours before and it didn’t go very well, so to end up on the right side of a result after a long period of time is a very special feeling,” he explained.
“At the end, when all the boys came out of the locker room, we (he and Root) gave each other a little hug and said ‘finally, finally we’ve won one’. It was a good feeling.”
Stokes said his team is now determined to finish the series with another victory in the fifth and final Test in Sydney, which begins on Saturday, January 3 (23:30 GMT, January 2).
“We still have one more left and the focus hasn’t moved away from that. We had two games and we want to get two results that work in our favor,” Stokes added.
Advertisement
“We are not going to let the feeling of this victory flow more than necessary.
“We have a few days to rest and recover before Sydney, but we will arrive in Sydney with exactly the same mentality as we had before this match to win another game of cricket.”