Welcome to Australia – media hit out at Ben Stokes on his arrival for the Ashes

England captain Ben Stokes was branded “cocky” in a scathing welcome as he arrived in Australia ahead of the Ashes.

A picture of Stokes pushing a trolley laden with luggage at the airport was accompanied by the headline ‘Baz Bawl’ on the front page of the West Australian newspaper.

“England’s Cocky Captain Complainer, still smarting from ‘crease-gate’ lands in Perth early thinking dopey ‘BazBall’ can take the Ashes,” read the sub-head in reference to an incident in the last series when Jonny Bairstow was controversially stumped.

The article went on to criticise England’s tactics under Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum , dubbing it “carefree and careless thrash batting”.

Australia have named their squad for the first Test in Perth, which begins on November 21.

Jake Weathe