Seize the chance to become Ashes legends, Stokes tells his England team

Ben Stokes says he wants England to ‘keep pushing the boundaries of what we’ve achieved so far’ against Australia. Photograph: David Davies/PA

On the eve of a new series, and four years after he carved his name into Ashes folklore with a heroic, unbeaten, match-winning innings of 135 at Headingley, Ben Stokes encouraged his team to grasp the opportunity that this historic rivalry offers more than any other: for players to become legends.

“We all know if you do well in the Ashes you’re going to be spoken about for many a year,” he said. “When the Ashes comes around it’s the big one in the calendar. So any individual who finds themselves either having a great series or a great individual performance, that will never be forgotten.”