English cricket's "Bazball" revolution is about to get its ultimate test, as the Ashes - the most famous Test cricket series of them all - starts today with the promise that the five matches between England and Australia could be among the wildest since the first one was played in 1882.
Under captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum, England have gone all-out in attack and won 12 of their last 17 Tests. Always chasing a win - even at the risk of losing - England have not been defeated in a series over the past year. It's a remarkable turnaround in form for a team that had won just one of their previous 17 Tests before the Stokes-McCullum partnership was formed.
It has reached the stage where England's players will chase quick runs and fast wickets or adopt aggressive field placings whether they're playing a cricket minnow or the world champion.
In Australia, they are taking on just that: the newly crowned world Test champions. And the message from the Australians, who beat India in the World Test Championship final at The Oval on Sunday? Bring it on.
"I'm intrigued to see how it goes against our bowlers," Australia batsman Steve Smith said of 'Bazball.'
"They've obviously done well against some other attacks but they haven't come up against us yet. It's been exciting to watch, I've enjoyed watching the way they've played and the way they've turned things around, but we'll wait and see how it comes off against us."
Stokes has insisted there will be no backward step from the home side just because they are playing the best team in the world. Indeed, Stokes said, the Ashes is the best platform to showcase a style of play he hopes will become commonplace in cricket, for its own good.
The series starts today at Birmingham's Edgbaston ground, and it will likely be much closer than the last when Australia - as hosts - demolished England 4-0 in 2021-22.
James Anderson, England's most successful bowler, thinks it could be close. "Both teams are strong in all departments," the 40-year-old paceman said. "I can't really split the teams."
Ben Stokes, left, insists England won't curb their aggression while Steve Smith is interested to see how home batsmen perform against Australia's attack. REUTERS
