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England's captain has demanded his team to tap into the combative spirit witnessed in the India series earlier this summer and demonstrate some fight as they attempt to revive their fading Ashes chances in Adelaide.

'No Country for Weak Men'

After going 2-0 down in Brisbane, Stokes spoke of playing in Australia being "no country for weak men" and made clear the same applied within the England dressing room under his leadership. As they prepare for the Adelaide Test beginning on Wednesday, that comment was apparently a deliberate message.

"The necessary words is out there," replied Stokes, responding to a query about whether that theme of resilience had been reinforced during the break. "All the players are alert for the challenge ahead this week."

Drawing on Past Fight

Instead, after allowing the idea to sink in with his squad during their time off in Noosa, Stokes has later emphasised it behind closed doors. This involved recalling the dispute with the Indian team at Lord's back in July, which led to a series of on-field exchanges and, in the end, a dramatic 22-run victory.

"The key is to compete in every situation that you find yourself in," the all-rounder said. "Reading the game and the necessary response. And yeah, just face your foe every single time and show a bit of dog. That's what I mean by spirit."

"That Lord's match has been brought up," he added. "That is precisely my point – a instance where we all did that. We witnessed the way that team came out on that final day. We had to be absolutely perfect to win that game and we managed it. Mindset and approach in that scenario is what secured us the greatest possibility of winning."

One Change to the Line-up

England have made one change to their starting side this week. Josh Tongue has come in for fellow seamer Atkinson – injecting fresh legs into the seam battery – while off-spinner Bashir has not been selected in favour of Will Jacks, the all-rounder, even though the captain calling the young spinner as his primary spin option a fortnight ago.

Experiencing Australian Intensity

Of the 12 players England have selected in the Ashes so far, just five had previously toured Australia earlier. Asked if the overwhelming ferocity of the Test matches – not least two raucous environments in the first two venues – was the explanation for this supposed shortfall in aggression from his side, the captain answered: "In truth, yes."

He elaborated: "I remember my devisit here. One envisions what it’s going to be like and you listen to stories. But when it does come around it’s like ‘incredible’. My sense is the squad has now been through it and likely in its most extreme form, so we collectively understand what it’s going to be like."

Deflated Supporters but a Determined Squad

Asked if he had a message for fans undoubtedly deflated by the team's showings, the captain said: "Their feeling is natural. But there are no deflated feelings whatsoever in this group right now."

"There obviously were following the initial defeats because that is the emotional rollercoaster. But sitting here right now there’s not a shred of that feeling with me and an absence of it with the team. If we were, what would be the point in showing up?"

"So hopefully in Adelaide, post our internal talks, there’ll be a new vibe and a different look. We just need players to be counted."