England coach Brendon McCullum admits next year's Ashes clash with rivals Australia is a "big carrot", but wants his players to focus on their recent success and not look too far ahead.
Since taking charge of England's Test team in May, McCullum has completely revolutionised a side that had won just one of their last 17. Alongside new captain Ben Stokes, McCullum has encouraged England to play a much more positive and aggressive style of cricket.
And they have proceeded to win nine out of ten Tests under McCullum and Stokes, with thumping victories over New Zealand, India, South Africa and Pakistan. Next year will see England face their biggest challenge yet, when they attempt to regain the Ashes from Australia and while McCullum already has "loose plans" for that series he is keen to ensure his players live in the moment.
"From our point of view, we will have loose plans about that stuff," he said when asked about the Ashes. "It is a big carrot down the line.
"At the same time, I want the guys to enjoy what we have been able to achieve here. Just like the summer the message is not look too far ahead.
"Let's live in the here and now of what we have achieved. Let that sink in. It will take some time to sink in. I think it is the same with the success this team has had.
"We have to allow that to sink in because there will be tough challenges in time. And if you have not banked those good experiences, what have you got to call on?"
McCullum's friend and former New Zealand teammate Daniel Vettori is currently Australia's assistant coach and believes the Ashes will be an "exciting challenge". Speaking on Tuesday, Vettori said of England's new approach to Test cricket: "That's Brendon's nature, there is positivity in everything he does.
"They are going to give it a go, it looks like. "I think that is what everyone is excited about… that aggressive nature versus an exceptional [Australian] bowling attack. They did it against South Africa and we have all acknowledged South Africa are an exceptional bowling attack. It is such an exciting challenge for this bowling unit."
