BIRMINGHAM: England captain Ben Stokes insists there will be no letup in his side`s dynamic approach during the Ashes series against archrivals Australia, which starts on Friday.

Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum have overseen 11 wins from 13 Tests since they joined forces last year, playing in an ultra-aggressive style.

All-rounder Stokes, a veteran of several Ashes campaigns, told a prematch press conference at Edgbaston on Thursday that his players were relaxed ahead of the first Test of the five-match series.

`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. `We are really excited to get going. It has been a long time coming.

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.

The Australians, who are Ashes holders, last week defeated India in the World Test Championship final at The Oval.

`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.

`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.

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.

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.

There was no place in the team for express quicks Mark Wood or Josh Tongue but Stokes is unconcerned about theapparent lack of variety in his pace-bowling line-up.

`I think when you say Broad, Robinson, Anderson, that is a pretty good three guys to say are in your startingXI,`hesaid.

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.

But Australia captain Cummins tipped a `different` Warner to win his personal duel against Broad and dominate England`s bowlers.

Warner has managed just one Test hundred since January 2020 and intends to quit the format in January next year.

`Davey`s, I`m sure, been thinking about Broad a lot over the last four years and if he got another chance how he is going to play against him, Cummins told reporters on Thursday.

`It didn`t go Davey`sway last time, but we`ll see a different Davey this time.

Cummins also expected Warner and other Australia batters to go after England`s spin allrounder Moeen Ali, who came out of his Test retirement to fill the void created by an injury to their left-arm spinner Jack Leach.

Off-spinner Moeen tends to bleed runs but has been named in England`s team and will play his 65th Test at his home ground.

`If you`re a frontline bowler and you`re not holding up an end, hopefully you`re taking plenty of wickets,` Cummins said. `That`s an opportunity for the batters.

`You`ve seen with our guys, if they sense any opportunity to attack a spinner they`ve been pretty brave at times. I don`t think they`ll be any dif ferent here.

Cummins wants his bowling colleagues to remain calm and stick to their plans.

`The more you get into the minutiae, you end up with a simplified plan, so that`s what we`re going to be hammering home.

-Agencies