Stokes wants to be one of ‘lucky few’ England captains to claim Ashes victory in Australia – The Guardian

Captain calls on tourists to ‘create our own history’
Mark Wood and Jofra Archer to be unleashed in Perth
Ben Stokes is aiming to become one of the “lucky few” England captains to claim an away Ashes victory as he called on his players to forget a 15‑year barren spell in Australia and “create our own history”.
After being shut out by the pandemic four years ago, up to 40,000 England supporters are estimated to be descending on Australia over the course of this winter. All are hopeful of witnessing an all-time classic and a change to the story after three winless Ashes tours.
Stokes, ready to unleash Mark Wood and Jofra Archer when the series begins in Perth Stadium on Friday, is fully aware of the challenge: succeed and he will become just the sixth postwar England captain to do so after Andrew Strauss (2010-11), Mike Gatting (1986-87), Mike Brearley (1978-79), Ray Illingworth (1970-71) and Len Hutton (1954-55).
“I have come here absolutely desperate to get home on that plane in January as one of the lucky few captains from England to have come here and been successful,” Stokes said, having named a 12‑member match‑day squad that includes Shoaib Bashir as the spin‑bowling option.
“A lot has been spoken about the history and how it has gone for England [in recent years]. This is our chance to create our own history and it is up to us how that looks.
“Everyone in the world, everyone in Australia, everyone in England, knows how big this series is and I think if we were to come out and not accept that – treat it as just another series – we’d only be lying to ourselves.”
While Stokes recently signed a new two-year contract with England that takes him through to the 2027 Ashes at home, this impending series marks the defining moment in a four‑year project led by his aggressive captaincy and an ultra‑positive head coach in Brendon McCullum.
Stokes said: “[It is a case of] looking it in the eyes, taking it on, not being afraid of the challenge that we have ahead of us. We know it’s a huge task coming to Australia and everything that comes with that away from the field, on the field.”
Archer and Wood have not featured in the same England Test attack since a one-off outing against West Indies in 2020. Both have been through injury ordeals and after meticulous rehabilitation programmes designed with this series in mind they are primed to hit Australia with pace.
“Two years ago we would have bitten your hand off to be able to take this group of bowlers with us,” said Stokes, who along with his own brand of muscular fast-medium has Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse in the squad for the series opener and Josh Tongue waiting in the wings.
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“The bowlers we have got can all bowl over 85mph. Some can hit the early 90s to mid-90s. But you’ve also got to add skill to that as well. And that’s what we’ve been lucky enough to pick bowlers who can all do that.
“I’m excited to be able to have [Archer] as part of this group. When he gets given an opportunity to influence the game, I know that he’ll be flying in and giving absolutely 100% towards that. There’s no doubt at some point he’s going to make a huge impact on the series.”
England squad for the first Test: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Mark Wood, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse, Shoaib Bashir

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