Stokes Confident in England's Bowling Firepower for Ashes

As of November 12th, 2025, Ben Stokes has expressed confidence in England's pace attack ahead of the upcoming Ashes series against Australia. The England selectors have included quick bowlers Mark Wood and Jofra Archer in the squad, despite concerns over their recent injury histories.

Stokes acknowledged the "X factor" that Archer and Wood possess, with both bowlers capable of reaching high speeds. Wood has recovered from a knee injury sustained earlier this year, while Archer has been building up his fitness over the past two and a half years. The England captain is excited by the prospect of having such a potent pace attack at his disposal.

Stokes himself has also been working hard to overcome a shoulder injury sustained before the final Test against India in July. He has been gradually increasing his bowling workload in the nets and is expected to be available for the opening Test in Perth. The all-rounder is determined to help England regain the Ashes, having won 22 of his 37 Tests as captain so far.

Despite concerns over England's limited preparation, with just a single intra-squad warm-up match scheduled, Stokes remains confident in the team's readiness. He believes the squad has been meticulously planning for this tour over the past few years and is comfortable with their preparation methods, which have evolved with the changing landscape of cricket.