Stokes said they need to push Australia back to win Ashes series
England vice-captain Ben Stokes said the team need to quickly show authority against Australia in the first match of the Ashes series to win the tournament.
“You can't feel your way into any Ashes series. You have to hit the ground running. That first morning is when you want to stamp your authority on the series with bat and ball,” said Stokes. “Getting off to a good start can make it flow throughout the series, so you want to be the team on top and you want to win that first day. If you go 1-0 down in a series it can be hard to come back from.”
“It's definitely important to put them under pressure if they bat first. Davey Warner is a player who can take games away from you,” continued Stokes. “He is a phenomenal batsman and very dangerous opener so to tie him down and not let him establish his authority against us would be a really big plus for us for the rest of the series. The drive is going to be there for him to perform. And it will be the same for Cameron Bancroft and Steve Smith.”
Stokes also said that England will have no mercy showing their skills against Australia.
“We don't want to give anything away to any of their batsmen. We want to let them know we are here to be serious and everyone in the changing room is desperately trying to get that urn back because it's not good them having it,” stated Stokes.
“There's no time for easing into a spell or finding your way with the bat, you have to be switched on from ball one. Even if we bat first, and you're in the middle-order, you have to be switched on."
England will play against Australia in the Test Ashes series. The first Test game will be held at Edgbaston Cricket Ground from August 1 to 6.
Home team England currently has -118 odds to win the tournament while the Aussies has +145 odds. If you want to see more outright odds for other leagues, check out the cricket betting odds page of Betwala.
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