'Ben Stokes has been in beast mode': England star issues warning to Steve Smith & Co. ahead of Ashes

England are gearing up for one of their toughest challenges yet—Ashes 2025-26 in Australia—and this time, all eyes are on Ben Stokes. The iconic five-match Test series is just days away, and England are determined to end their long drought of series in Down Under.

The England cricket team has not won a Test series in Australia since 2010-11. Since then, they have suffered 13 losses and just two draws in their last 15 tests in Australia. The pressure is huge, but Ben Stokes is no stranger to big moments. The England skipper Ben Stokes has made a career out of turning impossible situations into unforgettable wins.

Ben Stokes gears up for Ashes 2025–26 as England chase first series win in Australia since 2011

Ben Stokes’ fitness could decide England’s fate in the upcoming five-match Test series against Australia. The all-rounder is one of only three players, alongside Garry Sobers and Jacques Kallis, in Test history to score over 7000 runs and take more than 200 wickets.

SHORTS

View More

Your daily dose of cricket!

Loading...

The England captain has been pushing himself to peak fitness, running hard, bowling long spells, and spending hours in the nets. And England opener Ben Duckett said that Ben Stokes is ready to take charge in every department.

Read Also: Sanju Samson can end Ruturaj Gaikwad's captaincy stint - CSK-RR bridge confirms

Ben Stokes’ ability to bowl long spells consistently could be England’s biggest weapon, and Duckett said that his aggressive pace and fierce competitiveness lift the entire team.

Ben Duckett was quoted as saying by the Willow Talk podcast, “I can only say we've been out here for a few days, and he's been in beast mode. He has been running, bowling two spells, and batting for two hours. The way he trains and stuff these days is something that I've never seen before. He's probably the most important man on this side when he's bowling. So hopefully he stays fit for all five tests, and he's bowling in all of them because he's crucial for us.”

Ben Duckett aware of the challenge as England gear up for Australia’s deadly pace trio

Meanwhile, Australia will be without their regular Test captain, Pat Cummins, for the opening game due to a back issue. In Cummins’ absence, Steve Smith will lead the side, but that doesn’t make things easier for England. Australia’s bowling attack is still world-class, featuring Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, and Scott Boland, who can destroy any batting lineup.

England’s openers will face the daunting task of surviving those first few spells on fast, bouncy tracks, and Duckett admitted that they know touring Australia is never easy.

The explosive opener explained, “You know how tough it is for touring sides coming over here. I'm not expecting or setting myself any targets. I know I'm opening the batting against probably the best bowling attack in the world in their home conditions.”

Read Also: Venkatesh Iyer thrown out as list of players released by KKR finalized ahead of IPL 2026 auction

He added, “There are moments as an opening batter; for example, it could be at Perth where we've got five overs to see at the end of the day. And I did it against India last summer, where we actually just batted to get through it. I don't care how many runs you've got; just be there in the morning.”

Ben Duckett says England aiming for a smarter and balanced approach ahead of the Ashes 2025

Duckett said that the team is now focused on playing smarter cricket in the upcoming Ashes, saying they want to balance their attacking style with better decision-making to keep the pressure on Australia throughout the Ashes series, starting on November 21 in Perth.

The Englishman said that their goal now is to stay patient, read the game better, and turn good knocks into match-winning scores. He signed off by saying, “I think that's where we're trying to go as a team now, it's not just being this entertaining, reckless at times, side.”