Let the Ashes begin: Ben Stokes leads a fearless England into the furnace

There’s a particular kind of electricity that hums through an Ashes tour — a charge that crackles long before a ball is bowled. You can pretend to downplay it, call it “just another series”, but nothing in cricket matches the vibe this rivalry drags into the room. It’s the oldest, loudest, most mischievous contest in the sport, one that doesn’t begin with the toss but with the first stare, the first headline, the first bit of swagger tossed across the border.

And the headlines have already been flying. Ben Stokes reduced to the “cocky captain complainer.” Joe Root mocked as “Average Joe" because he hasn't scored a hundred yet in Australia. England dismissed as “flat-track bullies.”

Even Steve Smith — standing in as captain for the opener — arrived at his pre-match press conference ar