Ashes 2019 | David Warner can take games away from you, says Ben Stokes

The five-match Test series begins at Edgbaston on Thursday, with England looking to regain the ‘urn’ to top off their World Cup win last month. However, their vice-captain Ben Stokes feels that they will have a stiff task on their hands, especially in the form of Warner. Warner, Smith, and Bancroft’s return is sure to add steel to the Aussie batting, however, Stokes has emphasised the need to put the southpaw under pressure from the word go.

"Warner is a player who can take games away from you. He is a phenomenal batsman and a very dangerous opener so to tie him down and not let him establish his authority against us would be a really big plus for us for the rest of the series. We don't want to give anything away to any of their batsmen. We want to let them know that we're here to be serious and everyone in the changing room is desperately trying to get that urn back," Stokes was quoted as saying by TOI.

However, beginning the series Edgbaston is sure to give England some added confidence. They have never lost to Australia at the venue since 2001. And Stokes knows all too well the importance of putting the foot down on day one of an Ashes series.

"That first morning of any series is when you want to stamp your authority as a team with bat and ball. You can't feel your way into any Ashes series - you have to hit the ground running. Getting off to a good start can make it flow throughout the series and you want to be the team on top and you want to win that first day because hopefully that can carry on into the next four days," he said. 

Stokes, who himself missed the last Ashes because of a late-night brawl in public, has been trying to clean up his act as well. Since their recent disciplinary woes, the Aussies have taken a more ‘nicer’ approach on-field. However, Stokes is certain that all the niceness will out of the window once both teams get to business in the middle. 

"It is weird Aussies trying to be nice to you. Once you get out in the middle and cross the white line, the real competitive side of both teams will come out and the Ashes is the biggest test series played in the world. There is always something that happens between teams in Ashes series and I don't think this will be any different. Both teams are desperate to win."