England vs Dad's Army for the Ashes!

Can the oldest Test team in nearly 100 years cope with the tourists' pace attack?

- By Cameron Ponsonby

It's finally here. For more than three years, the Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum regime has been building towards a legacy-defining trip Down Under. Reputations are made in Ashes encounters — this series will be no different. Across the past decade, England have been nothing short of useless in Australia. They've played 15 matches, won none of them, and lost 13. But this time, with a clear plan in place and a high-octane style of cricket at the ready, the foundations are in place for an historic series. Win, lose or draw, it is set to be spectacular.

Winning in Australia is one of cricket's toughest challenges. Since England last won a series in Australia in 2011 — their only victorious Ashes since the 1980s — Australia have lost only four of the 22 series they have played at home.

Australia are good, but they are old. The core of their team are all in their mid to late thirties, and the concern for years has been what happens when their entire team retires, or breaks, all at the same time. Well, it's started to happen.

Their talismanic captain Pat Cummins is missing at least the first Test through injury, while his fellow fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has also been ruled out of the first Test with a hamstring complaint. Between them, they have more than 600 Test wickets. Australia’s super-strength was their relentless bowling attack and half of it is missing for the first Test. It is a golden opportunity for England.

Stokes said: “I understand what this series means in my journey as England captain. It’s certainly the biggest series I will lead this side in. “I understand all the ‘defining series’ stuff. Personally it’s not going to detract from what I've given as England captain. It’s been three and a half years of a lot of time and effort. It’s something I’ve thoroughly enjoyed, I wake up every morning loving what I do. It’s the greatest honour in English cricket to lead this team. I’m desperate to be an Ashes-winning captain.”