‘Old scars’ are irrelevant. This time it feels different

To some people it would be a huge surprise and an upset if we were to win the Ashes. But not us. We believe we have a group strong enough to compete and run Australia very close. It would be a big achievement, although preparation has not been ideal with our vice-captain Ben Stokes, who is one of our most influential players, not here.

It is key we score totals of 400. When we won here in 2010-11 we scored more than 400 three times and won three times. If that happens I am confident our bowlers can restrict them. Yes, we do not have the pace of Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins but we have skilful bowlers, guys who bowl mid-to-high 80s. We have enough pace and have spent the past three weeks working out how we are going to be successful.

The pitches have been good and the new ball does not do much, so being accurate is important. We know if we get off to a good start with the new ball we can make it awkward for Australia in the middle because, even when the ball is not doing a great deal, we have guys who can bowl reverse swing. We have also used the bouncer well so far.

It will be about making sure we are focused all the time, rather than for an hour or two here and there, which is where we tripped up last time in Australia. We also have to be ourselves. We are not a very verbal team. Joe Root is not interested in us being like that. He just wants us to focus on our job, show intensity in the field with our bowling and focus on skill, rather than anything else.

Australia is a hard place if you get off to a bad start and it has happened to me twice in the past. Other teams have lost in Brisbane and, while they may not have been whitewashed like we were four years ago and in 2006-07, they have still had a drubbing. You live in an Ashes bubble all the time. It is a slippery slope if you don’t start well. I don’t know why. The Gabba is not a frightening place to play. It is not as if the pitch is really suited to Australian cricket. I just think when Australia turn up here they stand a foot taller because they have such a good record in Brisbane.

We know there has been a lot of talk about their selections and, if we start well, that will only grow. If we can really focus on this first game, throw everything at it and realise how important it is for the series, then hopefully we can get a good result.

There has been plenty of trash talking and I’m not interested in that stuff. I don’t know and don’t care what Australians think of my bowling, or if they respect me.

I would like a better record in Australia but I would like a better record in every country. My record in Australia is irrelevant. Four years have passed since I last bowled here. It is the same when Australia talk about old scars from four years ago. It is irrelevant. Both sides are vastly different in terms of personnel and form. People can talk as much as they want about old scars but it is about what happens tomorrow.

The build-up has been great. It has been a really nice atmosphere in the group. We are enjoying each other’s company and the first few weeks have gone quickly. We all think we are in a good place.

We have thrown ourselves into the work but, at the same time, we have also taken the opportunity to switch off. We have had guys crocodile feeding, paintballing in Townsville, playing golf and going to the beach. If you get sucked into focusing just on the cricket then you can get tired very quickly. It becomes monotonous.

There are a few guys I didn’t know very well. Mason Crane, for example. He is a cheeky little lad. A lot of the lads take the mickey out of him because he is not very good in the football warm-ups, but he gives stick back, so he fits in well.

Sharing apartments during the warm-up games helped break the ice. It makes the guys who have not toured before feel more connected to the team. You can feel isolated if you are in your own room at the beginning. We have found the right balance between working hard and relaxing. The atmosphere is very good, whereas four years ago we had the Jonathan Trott stuff going on and the group was coming to the end of a cycle. There is a different feel this time. Australia 3-1 Their pace attack will blow us away, and their tail will wag. The absence of Ben Stokes is too much for England.

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