Stokes in beast mode as England eye 1st Ashes win in Australia since 2011

Seeking their first Test victory in Australia since 2011, England are expecting their leader Ben Stokes to lead from the front with his all-round brilliance as they gear up for the upcoming five-Test Ashes series, also a crucial leg of the ICC World Test Championship.

- TRIDIB BAPARNASH

It has been over a decade since England last triumphed in Australia, when Andrew Strauss led them to a 3-1 win in the 2010-11 series. Since then, the visitors have endured aleanrunDown Under, managing just two draws and suffering 13 defeats in 15 Tests. To change that record, they will need standout performances and alleyesare on their talismanic skipper.

Stokes has longbeen Englands big-match player, best remembered for his heroic unbeaten 135 at Headingley during the 2019 Ashes, which secured one ofthe most dramatic Test victories in history.

Opener Ben Duckett believes thecaptainis primed for another special series.

“I can only say we've been out here for a few days and he’s been in beast mode,” Duckett told the Willow Talk podcast. “He has been running, bowling two spells, batting for two hours. The way he trains and stuffthese daysis something that I've never seen before.”