England captain Ben Stokes insists his side ‘can beat anyone’ ahead of Ashes series

Ben Stokes will go into the most eagerly anticipated Ashes series since 2005 telling his team they are capable of beating anyone.

The England captain, who says he is in a ‘really good position to be able to bowl’ in Friday’s first Test at Edgbaston, has urged his players to ‘keep pushing the boundaries’ as they chase a 12th win out of 14 since he took charge.

Stokes admitted that the decision to select Stuart Broad ahead of Mark Wood was influenced by his success against David Warner four years ago, when Broad removed the Australian opener seven times at a cost of just 35 runs.

‘I’d be lying if I said no,’ he said. ‘Broady has been an unbelievable performer over many years. What the Ashes brings, it’s so hard to look past someone like that.’

But he was keener to talk about the team dynamic as England go in search of their first Ashes win since 2015 – also the last time they won the first Test of a series against Australia.

Stokes has urged his England players to ‘keep pushing the boundaries’ going into the Ashes

‘If we play to our capabilities, then I know we can beat any team,’ he said. ‘I know that’s a big statement. But from what we’ve done over the last year, I think we’re able to say that.

‘All I want is for the team to go out there and keep pushing the boundaries of what we’ve achieved so far. I don’t think there’s any question around how we are going to go out and play our cricket, even though it’s against Australia.

‘As long as we can stay true to that, then I will be a happy and proud captain, regardless of the result.’

Stokes also sent a message to the Edgbaston crowd as he promised to carry on entertaining with the ‘Bazball’ style that has seen them score at nearly five an over during his reign.

‘The crowd here is so, so good and loud,’ he said. ‘And when we’re on top, the opposition are made to feel like that. What I would say to the people who come here and watch, regardless of how things are going out there, is to just be with us – because over and over again we’re trying to make it worth their time coming to watch us play cricket.’

Stokes admitted he chose Stuart Broad due to his previous success against David Warne

The England skipper praised the crowd and stated that they will be entertained

Australian captain Pat Cummins said that he would name his team at the toss

Australian captain Pat Cummins said he would name his team at the toss, with one of his fellow seamers Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland and Josh Hazlewood set to miss out. But he backed Warner to put his 2019 nightmare behind him and come good in the weeks ahead.

‘I don’t think he’s overly surprised by Broad’s selection,’ he said. ‘I’m sure he’s thought about it a lot over the last four years, hoping to get another another crack at it. You’ll see more of an aggressive Davey than in 2019. He’s itching to get out there.’

Players on both sides will wear black armbands on the first day as a mark of respect for those who lost their lives this week on the streets of Nottingham.