Ashes 2025-26: WATCH- Ben Stokes refuses to apologize to reporter over ‘no helmets while riding e-scooters controversy’

An Australian publication had shared the news with heading "Pommy Idiots".

England captain Ben Stokes engaged in a tense exchange with a local reporter on Wednesday after being questioned about riding e-scooters without a helmet in Brisbane earlier this week.

The exchange occurred during Stokes' pre-match news conference at the Gabba, where he continually refused to apologize despite constant pressing.

Stokes and three England colleagues were photographed riding rental e-scooters through Brisbane without helmets, an offense punishable by a $166 punishment under Queensland driving rules. Queensland Police later clarified that the group was not penalized, but rather engaged to teach them on compliance rules.

Nonetheless, the event sparked outrage in local media, with the Courier-Mail splashing a front-page headline labeling the players "Pommy Idiots".

At the Gabba, a reporter asked Stokes directly: “There’s been some criticism of yourself and some teammates not wearing helmets on e-scooters around Brisbane. Do you acknowledge that that was the wrong thing to do?”

Stokes responded tersely: “Next time we’re on a scooter, we will wear helmets.”

Unsatisfied, the reporter pressed further: “Do you think an apology is owed to Queenslanders?”

Stokes repeated the same line: “Next time we’re on a scooter, we’ll wear helmets.”

The reporter attempted one more time — “Are you not going to make any further comment about this, other than what you’ve just said?” — before the ECB media manager stepped in, cutting the exchange short with: “No, we’re going to move on.”

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Stokes has already addressed the issue in a BBC interview, after Australian media chastised the England trio for not wearing helmets.

“If they think it is going to stop us enjoying this country when we have time off, then it is not going to do that. You can go out and about and see things that only Australia has to offer, great golf courses, coffee shops, and easy places to have lunch.

We are human. We need to enjoy countries when we get the opportunity because we live in England, where it is miserable, freezing cold, and dark at 4 pm,” Stokes told BBC.

Stokes and England will be looking for a response on the pitch in the second Ashes Test this week. *