England captain Ben Stokes insists there will be no let-up in his side's dynamic approach during the Ashes series against arch-rivals Australia, which starts on Friday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum have overseen 11 wins from 13 Tests since they joined forces last year, playing in an ultra-aggressive style.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
All-rounder Stokes, a veteran of several Ashes campaigns, told a pre-match press conference at Edgbaston on Thursday that his players were relaxed ahead of the first Test of the five-match series.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Every day we edge closer to the start of the series it has been like 'Oh I wish I started tomorrow' and now that day is finally here," said the 32-year-old skipper.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"We are really excited to get going. It has been a long time coming."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Stokes said England were committed to their all-action brand of cricket despite the challenge of facing Pat Cummins' men, who have the world's three top-ranked batsmen in their ranks and boast a fearsome pace attack.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Australians, who are Ashes holders, last week beat India in the World Test Championship final at The Oval.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
- Winning formula -<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"You get asked a lot if we are going to continue to play this way against this opposition, against that opposition, but I think we have just made it clear that this is how England play their cricket against any opposition.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"It has worked more than it has not so I don't think there is any question around how we are going to try and play our cricket even though it is against Australia."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
England named their side for the Birmingham Test on Wednesday, with veteran seamers James Anderson and Stuart Broad picked alongside Ollie Robinson in the pace attack.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Stokes, a lively seam bowler, has been troubled by a longstanding knee problem but said taking part in practice sessions this week had boosted his confidence.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
There was no place in the team for express quicks Mark Wood or Josh Tongue but Stokes is unconcerned about the apparent lack of variety in his pace-bowling line-up.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I think when you say Broad, Robinson, Anderson, that is a pretty good three guys to say are in your starting XI," he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Broad has dismissed Australia opener David Warner 14 times in 26 Tests and Stokes admitted the bowler's "incredible" record against him was a factor in his selection.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Moeen Ali has been called out of Test retirement after specialist spinner Jack Leach was ruled out of the series with a back injury.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"A player like Mo, who I have seen put in some unbelievable match-winning performances, albeit a long time ago, was something that I couldn't look past," explained Stokes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"That was a stomach and a heart feeling rather than my brain and I have generally stuck with my gut throughout my whole captaincy so far.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Moeen Ali is going to come in here and I am looking at what he can offer to this team on his best days and nothing else."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Both sets of players will wear black armbands and observe a minute's silence on Friday in tribute to the victims of a knife and vehicle rampage in the central English city of Nottingham this week.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Three people were stabbed to death, including teenage students Barnaby Webber and Grace Kumar, both of whom were keen cricketers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n