England captain Ben Stokes is looking forward to next summer's Ashes contest after a successful start to life at the helm.
Having replaced Joe Root as skipper in April, Stokes has overseen a complete change in mindset and approach and guided England to six Test wins in a summer for the first time since 2004. Veteran seamers James Anderson and Stuart Broad have been key to England's success under Stokes, with Anderson taking 27 wickets at an average of 17.66 and Broad picking up 29 at 27.17.
And when asked if both Broad and Anderson could keep up their impressive form for next summer's Ashes, Stokes could not resist firing a shot at Australia opener David Warner by reminding him of what happened the last time he faced Broad in England. "You keep picking people if they keep performing," Stokes replied.
"Stuart Broad and James Anderson have done that for however long now. They are the two guys I turn to, Joe Root and previous captains always turned to, for something to break the game open.
"Those guys stand up in the big moments and if Broady wasn't to be playing, Davey Warner might sleep a little bit easier if he knew that so we've got to take that into consideration!"
During the 2019 Ashes, Broad bowled round the wicket to the left-handed Warner and completely dominated him, dismissing the 35-year-old seven times in ten innings as he managed just 61 runs at an average of 9.50. Across his Test career, Broad has got Warner out 14 times, more than any other bowler.
Stokes has previously said Anderson and Broad have "got their eyes set" on next year's Ashes and have no plans to retire anytime soon. "I honestly just can't see a point where they decide it's time for them to step away," he said
"Jimmy has come out and said how much fun he's had and Broady's influence in the dressing room is the best I've seen while playing with him over the years. The conversations he has had not only with me but the other bowlers, how he wants to help them and stuff like that is something he's taken to another level.
"It's great to see Jimmy at 40 and Broady at 36 having a new lease of life in the dressing room and honestly I can't tell you when the end will be. We've got the Ashes coming up next summer and I'm pretty sure they have got their eyes set on that."
