England were beaten by two wickets in the first Ashes Test (Picture: Getty)

England captain Ben Stokes admitted he was ‘absolutely devastated’ to lose the first Ashes Test in dramatic fashion but defended his controversial declaration earlier in the match.

‘That’s why you play the game,’ Stokes said after Australia’s two-wicket win. ‘I think in terms of everything we have spoken about constantly for a long period of time. It came down to the end of today. Everyone was on the edge of their seat.

‘We are not a results-driven team. We are, of course, absolutely devastated. The lads are in pieces up there. But if that’s not attracting people to the game we love then I don’t know what will.

‘You have never won a game until you have won it. It was still massively in the balance. We had to come up with different ideas, keep changing things. And it just comes down to small margins in the end. A few chances go our way, there were a few drops as well. But we have four matches to go.’

Asked whether he regretted declaring at the end of the first day, with England 393-8, Stokes replied: ‘No, not at all. I thought that was a time to pounce.

‘I am not going to change the way I have gone about my cricket because it is the Ashes. Who knows we could have got an extra 40 runs or lost two wickets in two balls. I am not a captain who gets by on what ifs.

‘We saw it as an opportunity to pounce on Australia and really start day two on top.’

More to follow…

‘We are, of course, absolutely devastated.’