We can “write our own history” proclaims England Captain Ben Stokes ahead of pivotal Ashes series

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England Test Cricket Captain Ben Stokes has said that his side are in Australia to win the Ashes, and to become to the first touring England side to win the five-match series since 2010/11, despite the strength of the Australia side which Stokes praised. Meanwhile, Australia’s stand-in Captain Steve Smith spoke of injuries in their camp, whilst giving credit to Stokes and England.

Transcript

00:00For England, Brendan McCullum and Ben Stokes, this Ashes series in Australia is a pivotal one.

00:08The last time that England went down under to face Australia as part of a five-match series,

00:14Brendan McCullum was not the head coach and Ben Stokes was not the captain.

00:18But since they have taken charge of England, they have revolutionised the way that they play test cricket,

00:24meaning that this series could well be England's best chance of winning in Australia since 2010-11.

00:31That series in 2010-11 was not only the last time that England won the Ashes in Australia,

00:38it was the last time that England won a single test match down under,

00:42meaning that Ben Stokes, Brendan McCullum and the rest of the England set-up have many wrongs to right this time round.

00:49But they are perhaps the most capable England side since then of doing just that.

00:55Whether they'll do that, though, of course, remains to be seen.

00:58But Ben Stokes, ahead of the first test in Perth, was confident in what he and his side can achieve.

01:07Once I'm done here, we're good to go.

01:09So it's been a big build-up, as always, every Ashes series is, whether it's in England or Australia.

01:16But, yeah, it's great.

01:19Something that, when you're a kid, you look at and go,

01:26oh, I'd love to be there one day.

01:28So, yeah, now we're here on day before, day one of what's going to be a pretty tough and gruelling two and a half months.

01:36There's no doubt that we as players know how excited everyone is for the series.

01:41We know we've got quite a few English fans coming over.

01:45I mean, Barmy Army, they go everywhere we go.

01:48But we know we've got a lot of people coming out here to support us.

01:51So definitely over the last couple of days, even when we've got your time off and we try and get out and about,

01:58there's a lot of English people here.

02:00So, yeah, really looking forward to what kind of reception we're going to get tomorrow.

02:06I mean, this is my first time playing at this stadium in particular.

02:10Didn't mind the whacker last time, to be honest.

02:12They're all right there.

02:14But, look, coming to Australia, playing against Australia,

02:20and just, they're a seriously good team.

02:23And, you know, everyone's, including myself, including the team,

02:28and all you guys know that the record of England, you know,

02:32over the history of Ash as a series in Australia isn't the best.

02:37But, you know, we've got an opportunity here over the next two and a half months

02:40to sort of, you know, write our own history.

02:44We've obviously come here with the goal,

02:45and that goal is to get on that plane mid-January,

02:49returning to England, being Ash's winners.

02:51But we know it's going to be very, very tough.

02:53It's going to be hard.

02:54Because, yeah, beating Australia in Australia is not an easy thing.

03:00Yeah, I think he's done a terrific job with England

03:01over the last couple of years.

03:03You know, the style that they play, I guess, suits them,

03:07led by him and Baz, obviously.

03:09So, look, he's done a great job.

03:12And, yeah, potentially someone that you don't want to get too riled up.

03:15He's had a few performances against us

03:17where he's, you know, either taken the game away from us

03:22or clawed it back.

03:23So, you know, he's a quality performer,

03:25whether it's bat ball or in the field,

03:27he's always in the game and giving 110%.

03:30So, yeah, hopefully we can keep him quiet this series.

03:34He's pretty standard.

03:35I've been involved in a few now,

03:37and there's always so many words said before the series.

03:41But for us, I think it's about just ignoring the outside noise,

03:45concentrating on our processes, what we do well as a team,

03:50and trusting and backing that throughout.

03:54It's exciting that we're starting tomorrow.

03:57Everyone's been raring to go for the last few days of training

04:00and even before that.

04:02So, yeah, all starts tomorrow

04:05and hopefully give you guys something good to talk about out in the middle.

04:09Australia being without their usual captain and fast bowler Pat Cummins,

04:13as well as fast bowler Josh Hazelwood,

04:16is a big blow for them

04:18and, of course, a huge plus for England.

04:21And, therefore, England will likely attack this first test match in Perth

04:25with everything they have

04:27in order to get a 1-0 lead in the series.

04:31Obviously, the series has not won or lost on that first game in Perth,

04:36but if England can get a 1-0 lead,

04:38that might just be the catalyst for a memorable series in Australia.

04:42So, yeah.

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