The Ashes: Three England legends preview series and reveal predictions

Ben Stokes has said that even if England only need a draw in the final Test to reclaim the Ashes, he would risk losing to give his side a chance of winning the match. What did you make of those comments?

MA: ‘Well it didn’t surprise me. That’s the way Ben has approached his captaincy so far and I don’t see why you would change that because of the opposition. It’s worked for England so far. The messaging has been clear and that’s how England are going to play. So it didn’t surprise me to hear that and if England are 2-1 up going into the fifth Ashes Test that’s a pretty good place to be.’

NH: ‘It’s crystal-clear messaging. Eoin Morgan was the same with the white-ball side. Their stance was: if in doubt, take the aggressive option, and we saw what that led to. Stokes wants the messaging to be clear because if any of his team hear him waver, that sends a defensive, negative mindset through the squad before a ball is bowled.’

EM: ‘I think he means it. And you have to believe him because so far he’s done everything he’s said he’s going to. He’s built that level of trust in the dressing room. The method has been tested and it’s worked, even when people said it wouldn’t. I believe Ben because the moment he wavers away from embodying that positivity and that attitude, it will creep into the dressing room and then the method will be compromised.’

England opener Zak Crawley is, outwardly at least, under pressure. He’s a brilliant stroke-maker but has so far struggled for consistency. How do you see him going?

MA: ‘Well, this is a top-class Australian attack. Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are brilliant bowlers and they’ve got good back-up in Scott Boland, Sean Abbott and Michael Neser. Zak will be challenged, there’s no question about that. England want him to play a certain way and put the pressure back on Australia. There were signs he could do that when he came into the side at the end of the last Ashes. Whether he can do that in England and whether he can do it consistently is another question. He’s not been able to do that yet in Test cricket but he’s going to be given the opportunity to do so.’

NH: ‘He’s been given a role to put pressure back on the bowler. It’s going to be a challenge for him – Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood are proper bowlers. He needs to find some consistency. England are saying he doesn’t need it and they want him to win them the odd Test match. And that’s how it’s gone in his Test career so far, it’s been feast or famine.’

EM: ‘Traditionally openers have tried to see off the new ball and bat time. But they want him to impact the game. So he might get a few low scores but you’ll also get 40 off 30, the odd half-century and then you will have your day out where you smash 200. The level of faith they’ve shown in him is reassuring to everyone else in the team. They all know that if they apply the team method, they will be backed to the hilt. England bat so deep so if they do get off to a good start and put a dent in that new ball, it goes a long way.’

Staying with England’s batting, Harry Brook has enjoyed a sensational start to his Test career – can he maintain his form against Australia?

MA: ‘I’ve been staggered by the way he’s played. I watched him at the start of last summer for Yorkshire and I thought he had a very strong claim to get into the England team then. It needed an injury to Jonny Bairstow for him to get in but since then he hasn’t look back. He’s played magnificently and he’s one of the hottest talents in world cricket, no question. The one question mark over him is his lack of red-ball cricket. He had a mixed IPL, getting a hundred but not much else, so he hasn’t had that rhythm of batting which can be so important for young players. Fingers crossed he goes okay because he’s a wonderful player.’

NH: ‘He’s been incredibly consistent. He had a lean patch at the IPL but in general he’s been phenomenal. His technique is superb, he plays the ball the latest in that team along with Joe Root. His strike-rate is amazing but he’s still got a bit of that old-fashioned, Yorky grit in him.’

Looking at Australia, Steve Smith is already an all-time great, Marnus Labuschagne is well on the way to following him – who should England fans fear more?

MA: ‘Those two are the key for Australia. If they both have good series there will be some long days in the field for England. But if England can find a way to undermine one of them, or both, it will go a long way to winning the series. They’re both top-class players and have had success here. It’s been like running up against a brick wall bowling to Smith at times and England have really struggled to know how to get him out. I think those two hold the key for Australia.’

NH: ‘The key with those two is getting them in early. If they’re coming in at 150-2, England are in trouble. If they come in at 20-2 – which they often have in England – it’s a different story. You sum them up pretty well, one is an all-time great and the other will end up as an all-time great. I actually like the way they play. Yes, they’re both quirky but it’s old-fashioned, Test match batting.’

EM: ‘They are two exceptional batters but sometimes the damage is done by other players. You will always have the solidity of Smith and Labuschagne – they could score a serious volume of runs – but I think the way David Warner, Usman Khawaja and Travis Head support them will be really important.’

Finally, what’s your prediction?

MA: ‘It’s impossible to call! But the fact it’s so hard to call is a good thing – we all look forward to matches and series where there’s an element of unpredictability. I think England are marginal favourites just because Australia haven’t won over here for such a long time but it’s very hard to call. All I know is there won’t be too many draws.’

NH: ‘I’m going 3-2, I’m not sure which way, probably England because history is against Australia. But this is a really good touring side so England will need to be at their best to beat them.’

EM: ‘I think there will be a result in every game. I have England as slight favourites but I really don’t think there’s much between the sides. Maybe home conditions will be the difference. England’s method is so powerful that if it works, Australia won’t win a game. But Australia’s bowling attack makes them just as strong for me.’