Ruthless Australia biggest test for England and 'Bazball' during Ashes

A famous quote from Mike Tyson goes something like this: "Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth".

Cricket is no combat sport but England's approach to Test cricket rates highly when it comes to attacking mindset and fearlessness. That plan, given the name 'Bazball' after their coach Brendon McCullum (who does not like that name, must be said), has sparked a stunning turnaround in England's Test fortunes and delivered incredible success over the last 12 months.

And that plan will most likely face its first serious scrutiny against newly-crowned world Test champions Australia in the upcoming Ashes series.

Pat Cummins's team reached the final of the World Test Championship against India on the back of traditional approach to red-ball cricket. Obviously, it helped that they had Test veterans like Steve Smith, David Warner, Nathan Lyon, Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and others in their line-up.

The Aussies blew India away in the final at The Oval to lift the Test mace, and deservedly so as arguably the most consistent Test side in recent times; they had 13 wins and only five defeats over the last three years .

A team brimming with Test runs, wickets and experience will be the biggest challenge for Ben Stokes's England, who are on a mission to change the way Test cricket is played. Their cavalier style of play – maintaining a high scoring rate and going for victory at all times – has won them many admirers, and matches; England have won nine out of their last 11 Tests which included a historic whitewash in Pakistan. But that could change quickly.

England have asked for hard and fast wickets for the five-match series that starts on Friday in Birmingham. The idea being to help their batsmen score as many runs as