Former England cricketer James Anderson has criticized captain Ben Stokes' comments praising the team's effort during their recent Ashes series loss. Anderson stated that effort should be a basic expectation for professional cricketers, not something to be commended. He drew a parallel to Australian bowler Mitchell Starc's consistent high performance, suggesting this is the standard required. Anderson believes players not willing to give their all are in the wrong sport, contrasting Stokes' focus on effort with the need for execution.