Ben Stokes offers sturdy one-word response to curly captaincy question

ADELAIDE: With a 3-0 series loss staring him in the face, the inevitable question for Ben Stokes in his post-Adelaide press conference was whether he wants to continue on as captain.

So with that, the final question to him was whether anything over this Ashes period has made him consider if he wants to stay on as captain and play for England in general.

The 34-year-old smiled as the question was asked, tapping away at the table.

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His simple response was "nope" with the press conference wrapped up straight after.

Throughout the final stages of the third Test, nothing summed up the mindset of Stokes more than when Jofra Archer hit a cut shot straight to Jake Weatherald at deep point.

Stokes was captured on Seven dropping his head into the seat in front of him as he watched the last hope walk back to the pavilion.

His coach, Brendon McCullum, was sitting in front of him with his usual feet up demeanour.

McCullum and Stokes were side by side in conversation when they left the Adelaide Oval just after 6pm local time and will need a much better plan for the last two Tests than they had for the first three.

Part of that may be around Stokes' workload, with the captain not bowling on day three which turned out to be the most important in terms of the outcome of the match.

Assistant coach Jeetan Patel was put up for media after that day, and put it down to Stokes being "pretty knackered".

Stokes then had his chance to explain, and it married up with the prior messaging.

"The first two days were pretty big, I spent a few days in the field and then bowled a few overs and it was 42 degrees out there (on day two)," he said.

"I've obviously got ginger hair so being in the heat doesn't go really well with that. Next day I just didn't feel right. I knew I had a big role to still play in the team and what I didn't want to do was expose myself to (injury) ... I felt like I was going to snap every time I ran after a ball.

"I just looked after myself for the remaining few days of this game, had a good night kip and I was good to go again. I actually listened to the advice that was given to me for a change."

Throughout his press conference, the captain was asked numerous times about the preparation and whether it was wrong in hindsight.

Stokes wasn't willing to reflect too much, simply putting it down to what happens on the pitch.

However, when asked if there was anything he'd do differently, Stokes put the focus on the toss.

"Call heads first two and win this one," he smiled.