England Captain Ben Stokes has laid down a clear marker for his team ahead of the highly anticipated Ashes series, telling his players they must not fear Australia. With the memories of past defeats looming large, Stokes wants his side to embrace the enormous challenge facing them Down Under.
Also Read: "Series is going to be 2-2": Michael Vaughan Drops Bold Ashes Prediction
Speaking to Sky Sports before the 12-man squad for the first Test was announced, Ben Stokes was crystal clear about the team’s mindset. He warned against playing down the significance of the contest, saying, "I think if we were to come out and sort of not accept that and go, 'Oh nah, it's just another series', then we'd only be lying to ourselves and lying to the fact of what the series is."
His message for the debutants was simple. He stated, "Facing what that feels like, looking it in the eyes, taking it on and not being afraid of the challenge that we have ahead of us." The focus is immediately on the first Test in Perth, starting this Friday. With the Perth Stadium pitch expected to be fast and bouncy, England’s selectors have kept their options open.
The selection panel named off-spinner Shoaib Bashir and four frontline pacers, including Mark Wood and Jofra Archer. Wood, having proven his fitness after a recent injury scare, looks set to form a daunting pace battery. Brydon Carse was also preferred over Josh Tongue, while Ollie Pope kept his number three spot ahead of Jacob Bethell. Young fast bowler Gus Atkinson echoed the captain's confidence, especially noting that not having played in Australia removes the mental "scars" of previous tours.
Atkinson, who is happy to play a support role, praised his teammates, expressing, "Jofra and Woody are amazing bowlers and they'll be huge for us this series." He added, "So there are no scars for me... history would say it's probably a good thing." England desperately needs a win in Australia, having not claimed a series there since 2010-11. Their recent history includes a brutal 4-0 loss on their last visit, but Ben Stokes has a message that is clearly aimed at changing that narrative.
The 12-man squad announced for the Perth Test: Ben Stokes (capt), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Mark Wood.
