'Ego won game lost' - Fans react as England skipper Ben Stokes expresses 'no regrets' on early declaration in Edgbaston Ashes 2023 Test

The result of the fourth Ashes 2023 Test ended up giving a bitter taste for the hosts England as their dream of winning the Ashes stands still. Notably, the match ended in a draw at Old Trafford in Manchester due to relentless rain on two last two days of the match.

Meanwhile, England skipper Ben Stokes was also asked if he feels any kind of regret about the early declaration in the first Ashes 2023 Test in Edgbaston. He came up with a bold and clear reply saying ‘no’.

Although this rigid stance of Ben Stokes on early declaration in the Edgbaston Test happened to put him on the gaining end of some harsh reactions on social media. Some cricket fans took to the micro-blogging site Twitter and termed it as an ‘ego’ of the England skipper defending his and management’s ultra-aggressive approach.

Here’s how fans reacted:

Ego won game lost.

— Sharath🇮🇳 (@R_Sharath05) July 23, 2023

That was an over-aggressive approach that literally costed them a game.

— Abdullah Rana (@abrana145) July 23, 2023

This question is gonna haunt him 😂😂

— Suraj.2898AD ☀️☮️ (@surajjj0_25x) July 23, 2023

Ask him the same question when he retires

— Dilen (@DilzzP) July 23, 2023

That’s my boy

— AT⚡️ (@Elvintweetz) July 23, 2023

Pat Cummins : lol

— Naveen (@_naveenish) July 23, 2023

This guy has regrets only when he wins the match

— karanam prajwal (@karanamprajwal2) July 23, 2023

BAZBALL
BAZBALL
BAZBALL

losing the series 2-1 after so much hype and that too in their own Backyard 😂😂😂😂😂😂

— Boater (@Paramrana19) July 23, 2023

Accepting your mistake only makes you stronger

— Sojal (@Lost_guy01) July 23, 2023

Iss match me Bairstow khela phir log bol rahe ke they should've declared earlier...in first match also the forecast conditions are same still those people trolling bazzball pic.twitter.com/rypHerXbTt

— M a N i (@ManiAlluArjun) July 23, 2023

In last 2 test matches England played well, but in a test series when you are 2-0 its very hard to make a comeback 🙆‍♂️

In first 2 matches England made some mistake that's why they are in this situation👀

Australian are surely gonna thank weather😅😂💯#Ashes23 #PAKvIND #GOAT𓃵 pic.twitter.com/dBkjkG5LEX

— Ekansh Sharma (@Ekansh_Sharma21) July 23, 2023

Apart from this, Stokes also spoke about the result of the Manchester Test, he said that it is something which is quite hard to take.

"Tough one to take, playing the cricket we played then to get on the wrong side of the weather. All part of the journey. We knew the task at hand which played into our hands. Do or die, bowling them out then scoring 570 at six an over, couldn't have done too much more. A lot of pride to play for” said Stokes during the post-match presentation.

He also praised Mark Wood and Chris Woakes for their bowling. Skipper also expressed quite a bit of disappointment with Ollie Pope’s injury.

"Woakes and Wood have been unbelievable. Popey's injury made us think about the structure of our team. I've been very vocal about Zak. What he does at the top of the order, he changes games. He takes the bowling on. If he stays at the crease he'll change the game. Shows what can happen when you back players on a day-to-day basis. Broad, 600 wickets, he and Jimmy, unbelievable examples of international sportsmen. Broady loves the battle, especially against Australia,” he said.