‘We are not weak’: Stokes searches for grit in Australia

"They say Australia is not a place for weak men and we are definitely not weak but we need to find something."

That was England captain Ben Stokes' message -- not of surrender, but of frustration, honesty and fight -- as England found themselves staring at a 2-0 deficit after defeat in the second Ashes Test at the Gabba. It wasn't just a loss on the scoreboard; it was a test of character.

"We weren't able to execute with bat and ball and will be having some conversations in the dressing room," Stokes said, admitting what everyone could see. 

England were second-best when it mattered, outmuscled and outmanoeuvred by an Australian side that seemed to thrive whenever the heat was turned up.

"In small passages we have been able to bring the game back into some kind of control and then let it slip away."

The story of England's tour so far has been one of flashes -- brief moments of belief, quickly swallowed by pressure.

Stokes went deeper. "I think a lot of it to me comes down to not being able to stand up to the pressure of this format."
Test cricket in Australia is unforgiving. Every loose ball, every missed chance, every soft dismissal grows heavier with the roar of the crowd.

And the contrast, in his eyes, was clear: "It seems to be a constant that when the pressure is on, Australia keep outdoing us."

The sparks of resistance were there. Joe Root's century. The defiant stand between Stokes and Will Jacks. But resistance alone doesn't win Ashes Tests down under -- domination does. 

England lost control early, watching Australia pile up 511, and have been chasing the game ever since.

Still, Stokes refused to concede the spirit of the fight.

"We won't shy away from the battle but we need to sort things out pretty quick if we want to bring the Ashes back to England."

The third Test starts in Adelaide on December 17.