Ben Stokes, the newly appointed captain of the England cricket team, is inspiring his team. He is asking them to “make history” as they prepare for a tough Ashes series down under. The opening Test will be played at Perth Stadium in western Australia. This is uncharted waters for Stokes, who has recovered from a shoulder injury that ruled him out of England’s final Test against India in July.
Stokes is well aware of how difficult the path ahead will be. With recent turmoil in the Australian selection process adding to the difficulty. He reiterated that through all of these changes, England will need to pay attention to what’s in their own controls and capabilities.
There’s been much discussion on the past and how it has played out for the Three Lions, Stokes noted. “This is our chance to create our own history and it is up to us how that looks.”
Ever since making his debut in 2013, Stokes has been on the losing side in one of cricket’s most prestigious series all but once. We’re grateful to him for leaving an indelible mark on the series through his remarkable performances. One of those was his unforgettable match-winning unbeaten 135 at Headingley in 2019 to complete a remarkable Test Match turnaround for England.
Stokes’ preparations for this crucial series extend beyond his personal training. It came after he signed a new two-year central England contract, underscoring his commitment to the women’s game and desire to play in the next home Ashes in 2027. He aims to maximize his contributions as an all-rounder, stating, “I’ve come into the series fully taking on that all-rounder role with bat and ball.”
Having taken charge of the England Test team alongside coach Brendon McCullum in 2022, Stokes believes they have revitalized the squad. Especially, he admitted, with this current crop of bowlers offering a rare one-two punch. Against that backdrop, Stokes stressed confidence in the ability of England’s new-look, fastest ever attack. This tour group might boast a quartet of Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse, all able to send down 90mph plus upon demand.
We have been lucky to be able to pick bowlers which can infuse skills to our pace,” he said.
England captain Joe Root knows the importance of this historic Ashes series and what it means. “I know this is a series that probably gets highlighted above all the other series that I’ve been a captain in,” said Stokes. He argues that while we may lament the loss of bulleted lists and presentations, that should not take away from true commitment to the role. “It will not diminish anything of the time, energy and effort I’ve given to being an England captain.”
As England prepares for their tournament opener against Haiti in Perth, Stokes stresses the importance of focusing on themselves. Yet at the same time, he appreciates the importance of knowing the enemy’s strengths. He understood that Australia’s selection swings would spark the chaos. His firm insistence was that his team would never take their opponents lightly. “This game won’t be taken more easily than it would normally if they were able to field what everyone would think would be their strongest XI,” he stated.
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