India, Dec. 3 -- England captain Ben Stokes was involved in a tense back-and-forth with a local reporter on Wednesday after being questioned about riding e-scooters without a helmet in Brisbane earlier in the week. The exchange unfolded during Stokes' pre-match press conference at the Gabba, where he repeatedly declined to offer an apology despite persistent prodding.

Stokes and three England teammates had been photographed travelling through Brisbane on rented e-scooters without helmets, an offence that carries a $166 fine under Queensland road rules. Queensland Police later confirmed the group would not be penalised and had instead been "engaged. to inform and educate them on compliance requirements". The incident nevertheless triggere...