The Ashes: England's pace attack evolution under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum

England's pace attack has undergone a significant transformation under the leadership of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum. Gone are the traditional English-style swing and seam bowlers, replaced by a battery of hulking quicks capable of clocking 90mph.

The move towards an attack more suited for Australian conditions began following the appointments of Key, McCullum and Stokes in the spring of 2022. Their first move was to bring back James Anderson and Stuart Broad, aged 39 and 35 at the time, after they had been dropped for England's previous Test series in the Caribbean.

However, these veteran bowlers have since retired from international cricket, leaving England with a seam attack shorn of 1,308 Test wickets. The team now travels to Australia with its least experienced bowling unit since that famous triumph in 2010-11.

Stokes is the most experienced with 115 Test caps, while Mark Wood has been playing Tests for 10 years but injuries have limited him to just 37 matches. Six years on from his dazzling debut at Lord's, Jofra Archer has featured in only 15 Tests.

However, Wood and Archer will be tasked with spearheading the England attack, alongside Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue. The team's combined average pace is expected to increase further given Wood's return from injury, which could give them a boost in their quest for victory in Australia.

The key to winning in Australia lies not just in speed but also in exploiting the surface characteristics of the Kookaburra ball. England will need to strike a balance between pace and bounce to outdo Australia's fast bowlers, led by Mitchell Starc. The team must be careful not to get carried away with their approach and bowl too short, like they did in their previous home series.

Ultimately, all roads lead to the Ashes, and having picked up the pace along the way, England have six weeks to reach their desired destination before a new journey begins.

I'm loving this shift in English cricket! It's all about getting that extra 10-15 mph out of those quicks. I mean, who needs swing and seam when you can bowl at 90mph, right? The Aussie conditions are definitely suited to this kind of attack, but they need to be careful not to overdo it or get bullied by the Aussies' big hitters. That balance between pace and bounce is key . And let's be real, Mark Wood's return from injury is a massive boost for the team – the lad's got some serious skills . Now, can they deliver in Australia? The Ashes are calling...

I'm loving the changes to the English team, you know? They're gonna be like a different unit out there in Australia - all that pace and power will definitely give them a challenge for the Aussies. I think Wood's back from injury is huge news, he was always one of my faves , and with Archer coming into form, they've got a good mix going on. But, gotta say, it's gonna be tough to outdo Starc and Co. He's like a total powerhouse on that field! Still, I'm excited for the Ashes, can't wait to see how it all plays out

England's bowling unit is pretty meh right now... I mean, they've got some experience guys like Stokes, but the rest of them are kinda young and injured-prone . Like, 90mph quicks are cool and all, but if they can't even get the basics down , how's that gonna cut it? And Australia's bowlers are pretty fierce too ... I don't know man, I think England's got a tough road ahead of 'em... https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/59019155

I'm not sure if I love or hate this new English bowling approach . On one hand, it's awesome that they've got some beastly quicks who can bring in the speed and challenge Australia's batsmen. But at the same time, I worry about their lack of depth and experience. It feels like they're relying too heavily on a few guys to bail them out, rather than having a solid support system behind them.

I mean, it was only last year that they were struggling with bowlers who just couldn't cope with the Australian conditions . Now they're suddenly bringing back some of their best, but without the same level of experience? It's like they're asking for trouble. What if they get exposed by Australia's top-order batsmen?

Still, I gotta give them credit – Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum have definitely brought in some fresh ideas, and it'll be interesting to see how this new-look attack shapes up over the next six weeks . Fingers crossed for England, but also a bit nervous about what might go wrong

OMG, can you believe how much the English cricket team has changed? They're ditching those old-school swing bowlers for hulking quicks who can hit 90mph! I mean, it's gotta be tough playing with a bunch of guys you've never faced before. Mark Wood and Jofra Archer are gonna have to step up big time if they wanna take on Australia. Those Aussie fast bowlers, like Mitchell Starc, are super skilled, so England needs to find that perfect balance between pace and bounce. Can't let them get too excited and start bowling too short, or they'll be in trouble! The Ashes are gonna be SO intense this time around!

I'm so done with this whole "pace is key" thing . Like, what about some good old-fashioned swing and seam bowling? It's worked for England for years, why fix what ain't broke? These quicks might be fast, but they'll just end up losing their rhythm on the Aussie surfaces... trust me, I've seen it happen . Mark Wood and Jofra Archer need to get their heads in the game and start delivering some real wickets, not just trying to hit 90mph . And don't even get me started on Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse... they're just a couple of guys who'll get eaten alive by the Aussie batsmen . Give me a break, England's going down in Australia if this team thinks speed is everything .

so i'm thinking england's all out attack is kinda crazy lol they're relying on these young guns who are still finding their feet but at least it's a nice change of pace from those old swingers and seamers they had in the past, you know? like ben stokes and Brendon McCullum are the masterminds behind this transformation and i gotta say, it's interesting to see what these new faces can do. jofra archer is a bit of an enigma, still trying to find his groove but mark wood might just be the one to bring some stability to that attack... fingers crossed for england vs australia!

omg u wont believe whats going on w/ englands cricket team! theyve ditched those old-school bowlers 4 quicks & seamers & now its all abt speed! its a big risk but also kinda exciting? stokes & mccullum are the brains behind this operation & i think theyre gonna make it work. wood & archer r gonna be key players, but they have to stay healthy & focused... can't afford 2 let australia get thm again at least now its not just about swing & seam, its abt finding the right balance w/ pace & bounce gotta watch this Ashes series go down!

ugh, Australia is gonna crush them so hard like seriously, how can one team be expected to perform with such limited bowlers? ben stokes is trying his best but even he can't save everyone... meanwhile, aus has like the ultimate super squad mitchell starc is a god among mortals, no joke

I'm low-key excited about this new English bowling attack! They're ditching the old-school swing bowlers and bringing in these hulking quicks who can clock 90mph... it's gonna be lit ! But, gotta give it to Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum for shaking things up. I mean, 1,308 Test wickets is a lot to lose, so kudos to them for trying something new .

Wood and Archer are gonna be the yin and yang of this attack... Wood's experience will bring stability, while Archer's youth brings that unpredictability . And let's not forget Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, and Josh Tongue - they're all hungry to prove themselves!

The key to success in Australia is gonna be finding that sweet spot between pace and bounce ... if they can master it, England might just take down the Aussies again. But, gotta admit, I'm a bit nervous about this new approach... fingers crossed it pays off !

England's gone for broke with this new-look attack ... I think it's either gonna pay off big time or end in disaster . These young bloods are eager to make their mark, but can they handle the pressure of playing in Australia? It's not just about throwing fast, mate - you need strategy and finesse too . Those Aussie bowlers are tough nuts to crack! They'll need to work together as a team and find that sweet spot between pace and bounce if they wanna give their lads a shot at the Ashes ... My money's on them pulling it off, but we'll see how it all unfolds .

omg can you believe england's changed from a team of old dogs to a bunch of puppy quicks lol they're gonna need to be super careful not to get destroyed by australia's top bowlers tho like what happens when u bowl too short? anyway, jofra archer's been pretty quiet for 6 years now so either he's got some hidden skills or they're just messing with us also gotta say ben stokes is a genius for switching up the attack it's bold and i love it but lets see if its gonna pay off

omg i cant wait for england vs australia ashles!! ben stokes is literally the best captain ever and brendon mccullum has done an amazing job with the team they need to bring some stability now that james andrews are retired tho

so yeah, mark wood is gonna be a game changer with his injury being cleared up and jofra archer is gonna bring the heat we just need gus atkinson and brydon carse to step up their game i'm so hyped for this series

think its interesting how england went from having those old-school swing bowlers to these super fast quicks now its like they're playing a different game down under and stokes is the glue that's holding it together as a leader but what about all the wickets being lost due to injuries and retirements? seems like england was really dependent on those 1,300+ test wickets from james andrews and broad gotta be worried about how they're gonna perform without them

I'm loving this new era of English cricket! They're finally embracing that Aussie-style fast bowling and I think it's going to pay off big time. The fact that they've ditched those old-school swing bowlers for quicker, more powerful guys is a game-changer. Mark Wood and Jofra Archer have got the skills, they just need to stay fit and focused. It's a bit scary playing against Australia's pace attack though - Mitchell Starc is a nightmare! But if England can find that perfect balance between speed and bounce, I think they've got a good shot at taking the Ashes. Fingers crossed for them, gotta be loving the vibes from Team England right now

England's bowling team is looking pretty rough around the edges right now . They've lost a ton of experience with guys like James Anderson and Stuart Broad hanging up their boots, which has left them with a relatively new attack heading into Australia. I mean, Mark Wood has only played 37 Tests in 10 years, which is crazy . And Jofra Archer's had just 15 Tests under his belt - you'd think they'd have more firepower by now.

But on the flip side, with guys like Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse stepping up, there's still hope for England to turn it around. Wood's return from injury is a big plus, as he brings some real pace and skill to the table . And if they can figure out how to balance their approach between speed and bounce, they might just have a shot at taking down Australia.

It's gonna be a tough ask, but I think England's got this . They've been working on it for years, and with a strong squad, they can pull off the Ashes . We'll see how it all plays out in the next six weeks !