England skipper Ben Stokes says Ashes countdown behind James Anderson axe

NEW DELHI: England's captain Ben Stokes explained on Tuesday that the decision to end James Anderson's remarkable Test career was driven by the necessity to develop a team that can triumph in an Ashes series in Australia.
Although the 2025/26 Ashes are still a year and a half away, England is resolute in their aim to assemble a pace attack that possesses both the experience and fitness required to endure the rigors of a five-match series in Australia.
Consequently, the opening Test between England and the West Indies at Lord's, commencing on Wednesday, will signify the 188th and ultimate appearance in the five-day format for the 41-year-old paceman Anderson, following an illustrious career that has spanned two decades.
No fast bowler has surpassed Anderson's 700 Test wickets, and only India's batting legend Sachin Tendulkar has participated in more matches at this level.
England has also omitted Jonny Bairstow after precisely 100 caps and excluded Ben Foakes, with debutant Jamie Smith now installed as the wicketkeeper.
Fast bowler Gus Atkinson, who plays alongside Smith for Surrey, is set to make his Test debut this week. England has also selected the promising young talent Shoaib Bashir as their primary spinner, opting for him over the more seasoned Jack Leach.
It has been a considerable time since England last tasted Ashes success, with their most recent victory coming in 2015. The team hasn't emerged triumphant on Australian soil since the 2010/11 series.
"Look at where we've got to go in 18 months' time, to Australia," Stokes, as quoted by AFP, told a pre-match press conference at Lord's. "We want to win that urn back.
"We don't want to be standing still. I want to keep making this team push themselves as hard as they possibly can."
Since England's 4-1 series defeat in India earlier this year, Stokes has had ample time to contemplate the team's prospects.
"I think it's been five months since we played a Test match -- that's a lot of time to think about how you can take the team forward," said Stokes.
"I've been captain now for two years, so for me it's about progressing this team. You sometimes have to put personal relationships and things to the side."
The 33-year-old all-rounder added: "I don't want to say I'm stubborn, but one thing I'm very clear on is that I know that these decisions are best for the team, from my point of view, and that comes with responsibility of being a captain."
Stokes paid tribute to Anderson by saying he was an "incredible ambassador for fast bowling" and the "whole package".
Anderson demonstrated his enduring class and skill by claiming seven scalps for Lancashire in their recent match against Nottinghamshire. The veteran seamer, who bid adieu to international cricket at Lord's, is set to take on a mentoring role for England's fast bowling contingent throughout the remainder of the season.
"He's an amazing bowler, there's no doubt that he could still go out there and play Test cricket because he is good enough," said Stokes, who stressed he was good friends with Anderson.
"When we spoke with Jimmy, we laid it out with him and gave him the reasons and he totally understood it. This week will all be about Jimmy and rightly so, but I can tell you that his main focus is about going out there, taking wickets and trying to win this game for England as much as he can."