Ben Stokes’ footwear for the Ashes carries two stark emblems — a rising “phoenix” and a hand-sign motif — both laden with intimate meaning. The symbols honour his late father, Ged Stokes, whose life and battles remain deeply woven into the all-rounder’s sporting rituals. Stokes incorporated the celebratory hand gesture he performs on the field after it became his personal homage. He said, “I think everyone knows the story of my dad injuring his finger... and having it removed but since he passed away, the hand gesture is a celebration I've done in memory of him." The phoenix on the shoes mirrors resilience, a trait synonymous with the elder Stokes, who endured a finger amputation during his rugby league career before later facing brain cancer. The all-rounder had earlier marked the one-year anniversary of his father’s death by wearing a black armband on the opening day of the 2021 Ashes in Australia. Ged Stokes’ influence continues to shadow Ben’s presence on the field, shaping both his temperament and the symbols he chooses to carry. Read also: Ashes 2025-26: How Travis Head’s Explosive Knock Take the Match Away From England? Stokes’ emotional emblems amid a grim away record Stokes shoulders a formidable challenge as captain, with England still searching for a Test victory in Australia since 2011. Their last three tours have ended in a cumulative 13-0 rout. In this fraught setting, the talismanic batter leans on sentiment and memory. He and Joe Root remain England’s most seasoned specialists, with Stokes the only current player to have scored an Ashes hundred on Australian soil. The symbols on his shoes now travel with him, serving as reminders of his father’s legacy during one of the toughest assignments of his tenure. Notably, Australia crushed England by eight wickets as the first Ashes Test in Perth ended within two days. England folded for 172 and 164, undone by Mitchell Starc’s 7/58 and 3/55. Scott Boland and Brendan Doggett added seven more wickets across the match. Australia’s first-innings 132 gave England a slender lead, but Travis Head’s blistering 123 off 83 balls settled the chase of 205 with ease. Brydon Carse claimed both second-innings wickets in England’s lone bright spell.