Ahead of the Ashes 2025-26, ex-England cricketer Andrew Strauss said captain Ben Stokes has vulnerabilities. "We know he's an emotional guy. And I think the Australians, as a nation, they're going to really try and get under his skin," he stated. Strauss added, "As a captain...you need to be able to suck that up and almost show that you’re unaffected."