Ben Stokes says he is fully embracing the enormity of this Ashes tour and expects to be available for all five Tests as England prepare to face Australia in what he and head coach Brendon McCullum have called the biggest series of their lives. McCullum labelled the contest that way in September, and Stokes agreed, saying the scale of the occasion is obvious to everyone on both sides of the world. Asked ahead of the Perth opener, he warned it would be “lying to ourselves” to treat it as just another series.
Stokes believes England have a genuine chance to win in Australia for the first time since 2011, despite a long run of defeats and draws there — 13 losses and two draws in 15 Tests since that tour. “It’s looking it in the eyes, taking it on and not being afraid of the challenge,” he said, acknowledging the on- and off-field demands of a two-and-a-half-month campaign.
The captain said the squad has been built with clear expectations so players are not surprised by the standards set for them. He insisted his own appointment came with a defined plan to move the team forward and that selection was aimed at giving England “a great chance” in Australian conditions. On a personal note, Stokes made clear his motivation: he wants to return home as one of the few England captains to have won an Ashes series.
On fitness and form, Stokes said he has nothing to prove and is focused on giving everything for England. He noted his Test batting average in Australia is 28.61 and his bowling average 40.94, and that although recent seasons have been interrupted by a shoulder problem at home and two hamstring injuries in the second half of 2024, he has worked hard to be ready. “I definitely expect to play all five Tests. I am 34, I have played a lot of cricket and it is hard to do everything as an all-rounder. That is how I have always played the game. I will leave it all out there. I have worked so hard the last three months to make sure that when it comes to game time I am there physically to fulfil that role.”
Australia will be without leading pacemen Pat Cummins (back) and Josh Hazlewood (hamstring) for the Perth Test, with Scott Boland and uncapped Brendan Doggett likely to come into their XI. While some may view those absences as an advantage for England, Stokes urged caution: Australia remain one of the dominant forces in Test cricket and any replacements will be competitive. England, he said, will treat the match with the same seriousness whether Cummins and Hazlewood play or not.
England squad for the first Test
Ben Stokes (captain), Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir
Ashes series in Australia 2025-26 (All times UK and Ireland)
– First Test: Friday November 21 – Tuesday November 25 (2.30am) – Optus Stadium, Perth
– Second Test (day/night): Thursday December 4 – Monday December 8 (4.30am) – The Gabba, Brisbane
– Third Test: Wednesday December 17 – Sunday December 21 (12am) – Adelaide Oval
– Fourth Test: Thursday December 25 – Monday December 29 (11.30pm) – Melbourne Cricket Ground
– Fifth Test: Sunday January 4 – Thursday January 8 (11.30pm) – Sydney Cricket Ground
Stokes’s message is straightforward: respect the occasion, expect a fierce contest regardless of absences, and be ready to give everything across a long tour. England will head to Perth determined to follow through on their preparation and ambition.