England captain Ben Stokes insists there will be no let-up in his side’s dynamic approach during the Ashes series against arch-rivals Australia, which starts on Friday.
 
Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum have overseen 11 wins from 13 Tests since they joined forces last year, playing in an ultra-aggressive style. All-rounder Stokes, a veteran of several Ashes campaigns, told a pre-match press conference at Edgbaston on Thursday that his players were relaxed ahead of the first Test of the five-match series.

‘That day is finally here’

“Every day we edge closer to the start of the series it has been like ‘Oh I wish I started tomorrow’ and now that day is finally here,” said the 32-year-old skipper. “We are really excited to get going. It has been a long time coming.” Stokes said England were committed to their all-action brand of cricket despite the challenge of facing Pat Cummins’s men, who have the world’s three top-ranked batsmen in their ranks and boast a fearsome pace attack.