England skipper Ben Stokes has launched a warning to Australia, stating his team won’t tone down the ‘Bazball’ approach for the upcoming Ashes. England batters have taken the cricket world by storm with their aggressive batting in the last couple of years since Brendon McCullum has taken the reins as the head coach.
England will look to continue the same aggressive approach against the Australian bowlers. In fact, it is going to be an interesting battle between aggressive England batters and a relentless Australian pace bowling battery.
Meanwhile, Australia won the Ashes 2021 by 4-0 and England will aim to retain the urn while playing in their own conditions.
“We know the threat that Australia pose, no matter who they are playing against, they are a very good team but we’ve found something that works and has been successful,” Stokes told BBC Test Match Special.
The England all-rounder added it would not make sense to adopt a sedate approach against a formidable Australian team in the Ashes.
“Nothing is going to change because we’ve had unbelievable success with it,” he said.
“If we were to change anything from the last 12 months because we find ourselves in an Ashes series, then anything from the last 12 months will have been completely pointless.”
On the other hand, Australia will be entering Ashes high on confidence after winning the World Test Championship final against India by a huge margin of 209 runs. The Pat Cummins-led team was able to come up with a collective effort and they will be looking to carry the same form in the Ashes.
Travis Head, Steve Smith, and Scott Boland delivered the goods for Australia in the WTC Final and they are once again going to hold the key for the visitors.
The first Ashes Test starts June 16 at Edgbaston, Birmingham.