Ashes to begin today

England's Stokes vows no let-up in attacking approach during Ashes
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.
“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' men, who have the world's three top-ranked batsmen in their ranks and boast a fearsome pace attack.

The Australians, who are Ashes holders, last week beat India in the World Test Championship final at The Oval.

“You get asked a lot if we are going to continue to play this way against this opposition, against that opposition, but I think we have just made it clear that this is how England play their cricket against any opposition.

“It has worked more than it has not so I don't think there is any question around how we are going to try and play our cricket even though it is against Australia.” England named their side for the Birmingham Test on Wednesday, with veteran seamers James Anderson and Stuart Broad picked alongside Ollie Robinson in the pace attack.

Stokes, a lively seam bowler, has been troubled by a longstanding knee problem but said taking part in practice sessions this week had boosted his confidence.

There was no place in the team for express quicks Mark Wood or Josh Tongue but Stokes is unconcerned about the apparent lack of variety in his pace-bowling line-up.

“I think when you say Broad, Robinson, Anderson, that is a pretty good three guys to say are in your starting XI,” he said.
Broad has dismissed Australia opener David Warner 14 times in 26 Tests and Stokes admitted the bowler's “incredible” record against him was a factor in his selection.

Moeen Ali has been called out of Test retirement after specialist spinner Jack Leach was ruled out of the series with a back injury.
“A player like Mo, who I have seen put in some unbelievable match-winning performances, albeit a long time ago, was something that I couldn't look past,” explained Stokes.

“That was a stomach and a heart feeling rather than my brain and I have generally stuck with my gut throughout my whole captaincy so far.

“Moeen Ali is going to come in here and I am looking at what he can offer to this team on his best days and nothing else.” Both sets of players will wear black armbands and observe a minute's silence on Friday in tribute to the victims of a knife and vehicle rampage in the central English city of Nottingham this week.

Three people were stabbed to death, including teenage students Barnaby Webber and Grace Kumar, both of whom were keen cricketers.
“The deeply distressing scenes witnessed in Nottingham this week have brought immense sorrow to everyone, particularly the cherished friends and families of the victims,” said Stokes.

Cummins backs Warner to come good against Ashes nemesis Broad

Australia captain Pat Cummins said Thursday that England will face a “more aggressive” David Warner in this year's Ashes compared to the opener who struggled for runs during the 2019 series.

Four years ago, Warner averaged a meagre 9.50 in 10 innings.

The now 36-year-old was also dismissed seven times by veteran England bowler Stuart Broad during a campaign that ended 2-2, with the pair set to be in opposition again when the first Test of a five-match series starts at Edgbaston on Friday.
“Davey, I know will have all his plans in place,” Cummins told a pre-match press conference.
“I'm sure you'll see a bit more of an aggressive Davey than perhaps in 2019, and he's itching to get out there and have another chance at it.” Broad has been named in England's XI for Edgbaston, with captain Ben Stokes saying he would be “lying” if he denied the seamer's record against Warner had played a part in his selection.

England are bidding to win a first Ashes series since 2015, while Australia are aiming to end a 22-year wait for an away campaign win over their oldest rivals.

England named their side on Wednesday but Cummins, who only last week led Australia to a 209-run win over India in the World Test Championship final at The Oval, was keeping his cards close to his chest.

The main issue for Australia appears to be that fast bowler Josh Hazlewood is now fit for selection after missing the final, with the experienced seamer competing for a place in the tourists' pace attack with left-armer Mitchell Starc and the impressive Scott Boland.

“We do have a team but we will announce it tomorrow, mainly because we haven't got around to telling all our squad,” said Cummins, himself a fast bowler. “The big news from last week is Josh Hazlewood is now available.” Australia's rout of India meant they won 12 out of 20 matches, with just three defeats and five draws, during the two-year WTC cycle.

The 30-year-old Cummins believes Australia can have confidence in their own game rather than trying to match the ultra-aggressive style that has been a hallmark of England's play under Stokes.

“We've been amazing over the last 20 Test matches,” said Cummins. “And I think you've seen a pretty similar style in the way we've played, so we don't want to lose sight of that.” He added: “We're big on playing what's in front of you. Somewhere our batters might take 200 balls to get a hundred and that's totally fine. “