NEW DELHI: Skipper Ben Stokes acknowledged the formidable challenge presented by the World Test Champions Australia but assured England won’t tone down their successful ‘Bazball‘ approach in the upcoming Ashes series, starting June 16 in Edgbaston.
Stokes said the team has discovered a winning formula and will not shy away from their aggressive and rewarding style of play.
Since Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum have taken over, England have embraced a fearless approach in the longest format that has reinvigorated Test cricket. England have registered 11 wins in their last 13 Tests.
“We know the threat that Australia pose, no matter who they are playing against, they are a very good team but we’ve found something that works and has been successful,” Stokes told BBC Test Match Special.
“That doesn’t change with the opposition.”
Australia crushed India by 209 runs in the WTC final at The Oval on Sunday and have not parted with the Ashes since reclaiming the urn in 2017-18.
Stokes said there was no point in adopting a more measured approach against their arch-rivals.
“Nothing is going to change because we’ve had unbelievable success with it,” he said.

“If we were to change anything from the last 12 months because we find ourselves in an Ashes series, then anything from the last 12 months will have been completely pointless.”
(With inputs from Reuters)