Ashes 2023This series has the potential to be the best men's Ashes series ever, says Ben Stokes

By India Today Sports DeskSkipper Ben Stokes reckoned that if England manage to win the fourth Test at Old Trafford in Manchester, then one could count the ongoing five-match series as one of the best men’s Ashes that has ever been played.

The English team, fresh off a riveting victory at Headingley, is poised to level the series 2-2 against their arch-rivals, Australia.

The Aussies, on the other hand, will be keen to bounce back from their defeat at Headingley in Leeds and secure the series.

“Well, I think if we win this one, and then go into the last game 2-2, then it’ll be hard not to say that this has been the best men’s Ashes series in a long time, if probably not the best. So yeah, I think just overall, like, take away Australia and England, just the cricket that has been played has been absolutely brilliant,” Stokes was quoted as saying to the reporters.

“And I think everyone who has watched at the ground or TV in England or TV at home has just really enjoyed the cricket that’s been played. You know, we have seen some special moments on the cricket field. You’ve seen some very special individual performances as well. And guess that’s what you want from sport,” he added.

The spotlight will also be on the key players from both sides. For England, the onus will be on their batting line-up to deliver under pressure, while Australia will rely on their potent bowling attack to dismantle the English batting order.

England have won 13 out of their last 16 Test matches in Manchester. But the Three Lions are yet to win an Ashes Test in Manchester since 1981. Australia also beat England when the two teams last met at Old Trafford back in 2019.