England captain Ben Stokes bowls throughout a nets session at Perth Stadium. Photograph: AFP
PERTH:
England captain Ben Stokes admitted Thursday beating “a critically good” Australia can be robust however mentioned his crew was up for the problem and had a golden alternative to rewrite Ashes historical past.
The vacationers haven’t received a collection in Australia for 15 years and have crashed to defeat in 13 of 15 Exams since, with two extra drawn.
However with the hosts lacking influential tempo spearheads Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood for the primary Take a look at beginning in Perth on Friday, Stokes was upbeat about England’s probabilities.
“Coming to Australia, taking part in in opposition to Australia, they seem to be a critically good crew,” he mentioned.
“Everybody, together with myself, is aware of the file of England over the historical past of Ashes in Australia is not the perfect.
“However you recognize, we have got a chance right here over the following two-and-a-half months to put in writing our personal historical past.
“We have clearly come right here with a aim and that aim is to get on that aircraft mid-January, returning to England being Ashes winners.
“We all know it will be very, very robust. It will be onerous as a result of beating Australia isn’t a simple factor.”
England named a 12-man squad for the opening Take a look at however are set to depart the ultimate determination on who to omit till the toss.
A lot will rely upon how veteran paceman Mark Wooden is feeling after an damage scare final week, together with a ultimate have a look at a wicket which is anticipated to be vigorous.
If Wooden is sweet to go, they are going to probably subject an all-speed assault additionally boasting Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse, though the choice of together with off-spinner Shoaib Bashir stays on the desk.
Bashir was relegated to the second-tier England Lions in England’s solely warm-up match final week however Stokes mentioned that was a deliberate tactic.
“He was all the time going to be within the 12,” he mentioned. “We thought it was nearly getting as many alternatives to bowl as potential. And we acquired to face him.”
Wooden solely despatched down eight overs within the recreation final week earlier than heading for scans on a hamstring niggle. He was cleared, however has barely performed since knee surgical procedure earlier this 12 months.
Stokes mentioned he had no issues in regards to the 35-year-old, who was “flying”.
“I do know you guys say he solely bowled eight overs within the recreation, however he is been bowling for a protracted, very long time,” he mentioned.
“He has all the time been somebody who can simply hit the bottom working within the recreation, and he is bowling speedy, which is sweet.”
The Ashes strikes to Brisbane after Perth, earlier than Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney.
