The Ashes: Ben Stokes call on England to ‘create history’ in Australia

Stokes has been part of an Ashes-winning team once since making his debut in 2013. He has created some all-time great Ashes moments, most notably his epic unbeaten 135 to win the Headingley Ashes Test of 2019.

The all-rounder is assured of his place in English sporting history for his exploits in Test cricket and match-winning performances in each of the 2019 50-over World Cup and the 2022 T20 World Cup finals.

If the 34-year-old were to join the other five post-war leaders to leave Australia with the urn, Stokes would be in the conversation as one of England’s greatest cricketers.

“I know this is a series that probably gets highlighted above all the other series that I’ve been a captain in,” he said.

“But it will not diminish anything of the time, energy and effort I’ve given to being an England captain.”

England could unleash their fastest attack in a Test by naming five pacemen in their XI for the series opener at Perth Stadium.

Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse and Stokes can all touch 90mph.

The battery of fast bowlers available to the tourists for this series is a result of long-term planning to arrive in Australia with the pace England feel is required to be successful here.

“If we went back two years before we picked the squad, and that’s what we had available to us, we would have bitten your hand off,” said Stokes.

He added England are “fortunate” to have been able to select bowlers who can “add skill” to their pace too.

Stokes is back to fitness after recovering from a shoulder injury that kept him out of England’s last Test, against India in July.

The Durham man has not completed any of England’s past four series because of various injuries and his fitness will be crucial to hopes of regaining the urn.

“I’ve come into the series fully taking on that all-rounder role with bat and ball,” he said.

“I’ve worked very, very hard to make sure when I am playing I’m able to give that full commitment to that role, just because I know how much of an impact it makes towards the team and how it balances the side out.”