England Test captain Ben Stokes and two other players have landed in trouble in Brisbane ahead of the second Test against Australia in the Ashes 2025-26 series. According to a report in The Telegraph, Stokes was seen riding the e-scooter without a helmet, which is a clear violation of Queensland’s road safety rules.
After losing by eight wickets in the Ashes opener, the England team reached Brisbane on Wednesday for the upcoming pink ball Test. The match took place over two days, and with the second Test starting on 4 December, many players used the extra time to walk around the city and explore the streets of Brisbane.
Ben Stokes caught riding e-scooter without helmet in Brisbane
According to The Telegraph, Ben Stokes, fast bowler Mark Wood and wicketkeeper Jamie Smith were seen roaming around the city on e-scooters without helmets. The report also said Smith had a helmet on his scooter but he decided not to wear it.
“Some players, like captain Ben Stokes, are moving around Brisbane and using Lime e-scooters to see the city,” the report reads.
“However, in Queensland it is a legal requirement that all riders of e-scooters must wear a helmet, and Stokes, Mark Wood and Jamie Smith were photographed breaching that law. Smith also had a helmet attached to his scooter,” it said.
Ben Stokes and two other England players can be fined for violating the rules
It is against Queensland’s rules of the road to ride an e-scooter without a helmet. Anyone breaking this rule can be fined up to 166 Australian dollars. Ben Stokes and two other England players can be fined for violating the rule.
This is not the first time that England cricketers have faced trouble from Australian authorities. During the 2010–11 Ashes tour, former England batsman Kevin Pietersen was fined AU$239 for speeding in a Lamborghini near Melbourne.
A few years later, commentator Jonathan Agnew was fined for walking in Adelaide. “Booked for walking down a deserted street at 00:45. Adelaide! I loved you! How sad,” he posted on social media, adding, “There were four officers there. Rude and disrespectful.”
Queensland police respond after England stars seen breaking the law
Queensland Police issued a response on Tuesday afternoon after images of England players riding e-scooters without helmets circulated online. In a statement to News.com.au, officials said they were educating riders to follow the rules.
“The Queensland Police Service is actively engaging with communities across the state to promote safe practices, educate users on compliance requirements and enforce road rules to reduce the risks posed by unsafe and non-compliant use of e-mobility devices, including e-bikes, personal mobility devices (PMDs) or e-scooters and electric motorbikes,” the Queensland Police Service statement said.
Injured fast bowler Mark Wood was seen wearing a heavy bandage on his knee. After losing in Perth, the team reached Brisbane trailing 1-0. Travis Head scored 123 runs in 83 balls and helped Australia achieve the target of 205 runs easily. England will be desperate to end their long wait for a win in Australia.
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