Ben Stokes Aims to Join ‘Lucky Few’ as England Target Historic Ashes Triumph
England captain Ben Stokes says he is “desperate” to join the rare group of England leaders who have returned from Australia with the Ashes, urging his team to embrace the magnitude of the challenge ahead as they prepare for Friday’s series opener in Perth.
England have not won an Ashes series in Australia since 2010–11, when Sir Andrew Strauss oversaw a 3-1 victory. Since then, England have endured a grim run, losing 13 consecutive Tests across their last three tours. Stokes is aiming to become only the sixth England captain since World War II to claim the urn Down Under, and just the second—after Ray Illingworth—to win back the Ashes on Australian soil.
“I’ve come here absolutely desperate to get home in January as one of the lucky few captains from England who have come here and been successful,” Stokes said. “I understand how big a series this is, but I’m not putting in any more effort than I would for any other as captain.”
Australia enter the first Test without Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, opening the door for debutants Brendan Doggett and Jake Weatherald. Still, Stokes has cautioned against complacency, emphasising that England must instead focus on their own plans and mentality.
Managing Pressure as England Opt for All-Pace Setup
Throughout his captaincy, Stokes has made a point of shielding players from external pressure. England named a 12-man squad that includes off-spinner Shoaib Bashir, but the decision appears to delay the expected confirmation of an all-seam attack tailored for the fast, bouncy Perth pitch. Mark Wood, who has recovered from a hamstring issue, is in line to lead the pace barrage.
Stokes brushed aside talk of “immortality” that could accompany an Ashes win in Australia. “I can't say we are going to be immortal because we all die, don’t we?” he quipped. Still, he acknowledged the scale of the task and stressed the need for England to face it head on.
“Everyone knows how big this series is,” he said. “If we pretended it was just another series, we’d be lying to ourselves. We’re not afraid of the challenge—we’re taking it on.”
Stokes and fellow Ashes veterans Joe Root, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, and Wood have been preparing newer squad members for the demanding Australian conditions and the intense atmosphere surrounding the rivalry.
Stokes Set for Comeback After Injury Layoff
The Perth Test will mark Stokes’ first competitive appearance since the fourth Test against India, where he suffered a grade-three shoulder tear. The injury ended his series prematurely, but he has spent the last four months rebuilding his fitness and skills.
He also signed a two-year extension to his England central contract, committing through the 2027 home Ashes. “I want to eke everything out of this body I can, and I’ll do that in an England shirt,” he said.
Stokes’ return and England’s aggressive mindset set the stage for a high-stakes Ashes series—one he hopes will end with his name added to the select list of captains who triumphed in Australia.