England captain Ben Stokes has set his sights on joining an exclusive group of post-war leaders who have secured an Ashes victory on Australian soil, urging his team to ignore past failures and forge a new legacy.
A Chance to Make History
Speaking ahead of the first Test at Perth Stadium, Stokes expressed his burning ambition to become just the sixth England captain since the Second World War to win the Ashes away from home. The elite list includes Andrew Strauss (2010-11), Mike Gatting (1986-87), Mike Brearley (1978-79), Ray Illingworth (1970-71), and Len Hutton (1954-55).
"I have come here absolutely desperate to get home on that plane in January as one of the lucky few captains from England to have come here and been successful," Stokes declared. He emphasised that his squad is focused on the present opportunity, not the 15-year winless streak for England in Australia.
"A lot has been spoken about the history and how it has gone for England [in recent years]," he said. "This is our chance to create our own history and it is up to us how that looks."
Embracing the Ultimate Challenge
Stokes acknowledged the immense scale of the challenge, stating that it would be disingenuous to treat the iconic series as just another contest. With an estimated 40,000 England supporters travelling to Australia for the winter, anticipation is at a fever pitch for what many hope will be an all-time classic series.
"[It is a case of] looking it in the eyes, taking it on, not being afraid of the challenge that we have ahead of us," Stokes explained. "We know it’s a huge task coming to Australia and everything that comes with that away from the field, on the field."
This series represents the culmination of a four-year project defined by Stokes's aggressive leadership and the positive philosophy of head coach Brendon McCullum.
Pace Attack Primed for Action
A key component of England's strategy involves unleashing their formidable pace attack. Stokes confirmed that Mark Wood and Jofra Archer are set to feature together in a Test for the first time since a one-off match against West Indies in 2020.
Both bowlers have endured significant injury setbacks but have undergone meticulous rehabilitation programmes specifically designed with this Ashes series in mind. Stokes expressed his excitement at finally having a full arsenal of fast bowlers at his disposal.
"Two years ago we would have bitten your hand off to be able to take this group of bowlers with us," Stokes admitted. He highlighted that the squad's bowlers can all exceed 85mph, with some capable of reaching the mid-90s, combining raw pace with skill.
Speaking specifically about Archer's return, Stokes added, "I’m excited to be able to have him as part of this group. When he gets given an opportunity to influence the game, I know that he’ll be flying in... There’s no doubt at some point he’s going to make a huge impact on the series."
The 12-strong squad for the first Test also includes spin-bowling option Shoaib Bashir, alongside other pace options like Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, and Josh Tongue.
England Squad for First Test
Batting: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c).
Wicketkeeper: Jamie Smith.
Bowling: Mark Wood, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse, Shoaib Bashir.
