Ben Stokes says England won't be overawed in Ashes bid and will throw everything at Australia ahead of first Test in Perth
Updated 20/11/2025 at 20:13 GMT
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England will attempt to win the Ashes in Australia for the first time since 2010/11 when the series starts in Perth on November 21, live on TNT Sports and discovery+. England captain Ben Stokes has spoken about not being overawed by the challenge ahead and how his side aim to throw everything at Australia. Stokes has also given his view on how Australia's absences might impact the first Test.
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History suggests England’s bid to win the NRMA Insurance men’s Ashes is a daunting one.
England have only won the Ashes once in Australia this century and in their last three trips Down Under they have failed to win a single Test.
The dispiriting nature of the recent match-ups is summed up by the fact that no series in Australia since the memorable 2010/11 success has been alive beyond the third Test.
To follow in the footsteps of Andrew Strauss and co is a significant challenge for England - but not one that captain Ben Stokes is shying away from.
"We know what we have set out to do; the end goal in January is to be going home as Ashes winners," he told TNT Sports on the eve of the first Test in Perth, live on TNT Sports and discovery+ from 2.20am on November 21.
"We just make sure that everyone on the touring party isn’t afraid of that; sometimes it can be a big scary thing to think about, and it can overawe you, but it’s nothing to be afraid of, and we just have to take everything that is thrown at us over the next two-and-a-half months in our stride.
"We will go through good times and bad times because that is what a five-match series does to you, but we will be throwing everything at them."
For Stokes this could be a captaincy-defining series.
Since he was appointed skipper in April 2022, England have memorably swept a Test series in Pakistan, won in New Zealand, and fought back from 2-0 down to draw the last Ashes in 2023.
But this series has been on the horizon for some time and Stokes acknowledges it has a "different feel" to any other.
"In the grand scheme of things this is a huge series in my time as England captain," said Stokes.
"And I am fully aware of that and fully understand how much it means to both nations, we are both very passionate about our sport and the Ashes.
"I am under no illusions and not trying to play this down whatsoever, if you try to play it down like it’s any other series then we wouldn’t be accepting this for what it is.
"It always has a different feel around it compared to any other series."
Australia will be without Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood for the first Test in Perth and have named two debutants in their XI.
England look set to go with an all-pace attack as they seek to strike the first blow in the series.
Bowler Gus Atkinson has said the opening Test is "massive" for England, but Stokes denies there is more pressure because of Australia’s key absentees.
"Not at all. The pressure that comes with walking out on the field representing your country is big enough so to add any more pressure to that is something I don’t do personally and we don’t feel we do as a team. It’s going to be tough and hard, playing Australia always is, so this game won’t be taken any more lightly than if Josh and Pat were playing.
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"Australia always have been and always will be an incredibly talented cricket nation. Yes there is no hiding behind the fact that Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood are two incredibly gifted players who have done it for a long time.
"I have been in situations before as a captain when I have lost a key player, but as we can, they can replace players with very good players. It’s international sport, so anybody who gets the opportunity to represent their country is very good."
England have been subjected to barbs in the media since landing in Australia, with Stokes labelled "Cocky Captain Complainer" and Joe Root called "Average Joe".
The time for talking will soon be over and Stokes says England will continue to take the off-field challenges in their stride.
"It is always a big build-up, even when we have home series it’s the same. Coming out to Australia there is a slight difference being the away team, so rather than two months of support, you feel it’s a bit different. That was expected.
"We have taken it on and taken it in our stride. We understand there is not only the pressure of on-field stuff to deal with but wherever you play an Ashes series there is always a bit more of the off-field stuff that you have to put up with and get your head around."
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Watch and stream the 2025/26 Ashes series live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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