Panesar Praises Stokes's Resilience in Historic Victory
Former England spin bowler Monty Panesar has hailed the mental fortitude of captain Ben Stokes after his team secured a long-awaited Test victory in Australia. The four-wicket win in Melbourne on Saturday 27 December 2025 marked England's first Test triumph on Australian soil in 15 years, providing a consolation result in an Ashes series already lost.
A Captain Under Immense Pressure
Panesar, who earned 50 caps for England between 2006 and 2013, revealed it had been a "very tough week" for Stokes and his leadership. The build-up to the match was dominated by reports of off-field disciplinary issues within the squad, including allegations of excessive drinking. England headed into the contest already 3-0 down in the series, having been defeated within just 11 days.
The former left-arm spinner, who took 167 Test wickets, described Stokes as appearing like a "tired, broken man" during a press conference in the preceding week. Despite this, Panesar commended the skipper for rallying his team under a "huge amount of pressure" to deliver a performance that finally ended a dismal away record against the old enemy.
A Defining Moment for Stokes's Leadership
Panesar told Sky News that the victory represented a "defining moment for him as a leader". By taking the prospect of a 5-0 series whitewash off the table, Stokes not only secured his first win in 14 attempts as captain in Australia but also gave the travelling Barmy Army "something to cheer about after Christmas".
The result leaves the series poised at 3-1 to Australia with one match remaining. England's last victory in Australia before this came in January 2011 in Sydney. In the intervening period, across four separate tours, England had suffered 16 defeats and managed only two draws, making this Melbourne win a significant breakthrough.
While the Ashes urn was already retained by Australia, this hard-fought win provides a vital morale boost for Stokes's side and a positive note on which to end a challenging tour.
