England captain Ben Stokes has fully embraced the scale of the Ashes series and will feature in all five Tests against Australia over the next two months.
Head coach Brendon McCullum claimed in a speech in September that this winter’s tournament was the “biggest series of our lives”, and the England captain agreed, saying it would be “lying to ourselves” to suggest otherwise.
Speaking to Sky Sports’ Michael Atherton ahead of Friday’s opener in Perth, Stokes said his team had a “huge chance” of winning the series in Australia for the first time since 2011, having lost 13 and drawn two of their next 15 games Down Under.
“Absolutely (the biggest series of our lives). Everyone around the world, everyone in Australia and England knows how big this is,” Stokes said.
“I think if we come out and don’t embrace it and say, ‘This is just another series,’ we’re just lying to ourselves and we’re lying to the fact that this series is what it is, which is to look it in the eye, to try it, to not be afraid of challenges.”
“We know it’s a lot of work to come to Australia and everything that comes with it on and off the field. It’s been a huge two-and-a-half month for us.
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Check out some of the best moments from the pace bowler who will be hoping to help England regain The Ashes this winter.
“The idea is to let everyone know what the expectations are going to be, so it’s not a huge shock and it’s not like, ‘Oh, I didn’t expect it to go like this.’
“We are in a good position. We came here to bring the Ashes home and that is the ultimate goal. We have chosen a team that we think will give us a great chance.”
“When I was given this job, I came in with a very clear plan for how we could best move the team forward and improve.
“For me personally, this series doesn’t diminish what I’ve been trying to do and the time and energy I’ve put in (as captain), but it doesn’t diminish how important I feel it is in and of itself.
“I’m one of the few England captains to have won an Ashes series, so I’m hoping to get a flight home.”
We can look at what the winning England teams have done and add that to our identity and how we play and how we perceive. But history is history, and it’s about the here and now. History means nothing when the series begins.
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“I’ll tell you everything, I have nothing to prove.”
Despite averaging 28.61 with the bat and 40.94 with the ball domestically, Stokes stressed he has nothing to prove in Australia and is confident of playing the full series after his summer in his home country was cut short due to a shoulder issue.
The all-rounder also suffered two hamstring injuries in the second half of 2024.
He added: “When I play for England around the world, I give my all. If I go out on the field feeling like I have to prove myself, then that’s not who I am as a captain or as a leader.”
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Stokes talks about his fitness and says he is ‘desperate’ to win the Ashes this winter
“I definitely expect to play all five Tests. I’m 34 years old and have played a lot of cricket, but as an all-rounder it’s difficult to do everything. That’s the way I’ve always played the game.”
“I put everything out there. I’ve been working hard the last three months to make sure that when game time comes, I’m physically there to play that role.”
Australia will be without premier seamers Pat Cummins (back) and Josh Hazlewood (hamstring) for the Perth Test, with Scott Boland and the uncapped Brendan Doggett likely to replace them.
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Australian cricket journalist Adam Collins talks about England’s chances of winning the first Ashes Test with home seamers Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins ruled out
“Australia are and will always be one of the biggest powers in Test cricket and in cricket in general,” Stokes said, although the absence of Cummins and Hazlewood gave the impression that Quick took more than 600 wickets and England had the best chance of winning the series.
“Pat and Josh missing the first Test may have swayed the result one way or the other, but we don’t feel that way at all.
“They are a very competitive country when it comes to sports, and we know it will be tough to play against no matter who is on the team.
“We’re going to take this game as seriously as Pat and Josh take it.”
Ashes Series in Australia 2025-26
always UK and Ireland
First Test: Friday 21st November – Tuesday 25th November (2.30am) – Optus Stadium, Perth Second Test (day/night): Thursday 4th December – Monday 8th December (4.30am) – The Gabba, Brisbane Third Test: Wednesday 17th December – Sunday 21st December (12am) – Adelaide Oval Fourth Test: Thursday 25th December – Monday 29th December (11.30pm) – Melbourne Cricket Ground Fifth Test: Sunday 4th January – Thursday 8th January (11.30pm) – Sydney Cricket Ground
