Follow UsThe countdown has begun for the first Ashes Test, which will get underway in Perth on November 21. This will be a crucial series for Ben Stokes and his team, given that history is against them. Since their series win in Australia in 2010-11, England have not won a Test in the country, with the Aussies winning 14.
However, since Ben Stokes took over as full-time skipper, England have won 22 out of 36, which is outstanding given that his side had won just one of the previous 17, including a 2-2 draw in the 2023 home Ashes series.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan believes Ben Stokes' mentality would be a driving force behind England's success on the tour. "I think they need a trophy," Vaughan said at an event, according to ESPNCricinfo.
"I mean, would I take two-all now? Probably, let's be honest. In the last few series, 2010-11 is the only time that I've seen England have success. We won one Test match in 2002-03, we won three Test matches in 2010-11. We haven't won a Test since. So, actually looking at growth in terms of what English cricket is delivering and, crikey, if you could get a two-all series, you'd obviously take that.
"But I think Ben and his mentality, and the way that he plays his cricket, this is his moment. He has to deliver, and he has to get that urn in his hand. And it's not putting him under pressure. They'll be speaking in this kind of language in the dressing room. They will expect to win this series and now's the time to deliver."
Vaughan also does not believe England going in with an all-pace attack is going to be the solution. In fact, he quotes someone like Scott Boland, who averages 12.63 in Australia, despite not being express pace but hitting the right lines and lengths
"I don't think it's all about pace," said Vaughan.
"I'd be very, very wary to just think that because we've got Jofra, because we've got Mark Wood, Brydon Carse, Gus Atkinson, that can bowl with a bit of gas, that's all you need.
"Scott Boland averages 12 [12.63] because he hits the top of off stump more often than not, and the ball just wobbles around a bit. This series is the series that I look and think. 'Give me a Chris Woakes or a Sam Cook' just in case, because we might get conditions that are very, very English and top of off will still be the main threat. And it's who's going to consistently hit the top of off stump
"There's not many quick bowlers that hit the top of off stump. They're basically there to bowl a bit of pepper and change up the pace of play.
"I guess Ben's the one bowler that you can just go, okay, you go back to top of off. It's the one concern I have about the England attack that I'm thinking, who's going to continuously hit the top of off if the ball's wobbling around? Pace, yes, but it might be a series where the top of off stump is the area to go for."
Australia will be without their skipper Pat Cummins for the first Test in Perth, with Steve Smith set to lead them in the series opener. Cummins is expected to be back for the second Test in Brisbane on December 4.