New Delhi, Sep 25 (NationPress) Joe Root has guaranteed that England will introduce something “slightly different” to this winter’s Ashes, as Ben Stokes captains a 16-man squad heading to Australia, aiming for their first series victory Down Under since 2015.

The five-Test series, scheduled from November 21 to January 8, will see England face an Australian team that has remained unbeaten at home in Ashes matches for almost two decades. Root, England’s all-time leading run-scorer, expressed that the tourists’ new mindset and playing style under Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum might just shift the odds in their favor.

"It’s a crucial series against a team that holds an impressive record at home, particularly against us in the past," Root shared with Sky Sports News. "However, I believe this is the first time we can challenge them with something slightly different."

“We’re approaching this with a new team, a fresh mentality, and a unique way of playing, having shown some strong performances lately. We hope this will serve us well, leading to remarkable performances and potentially creating history.”

At the heart of this new approach is England’s bowling strength. The return of fit-again pacers Jofra Archer and Mark Wood offers pace options that have been lacking in recent Ashes tours.

Wood is back after a knee injury sidelined him during the summer, while Archer has only recently resumed red-ball cricket after four years of challenges. Stokes himself is a bowling uncertainty due to shoulder issues, but England still has six specialist quicks available.

"This is the first time we are heading over there in the last few tours, or since I’ve been part of the team, where we can confront them with genuine pace and more than just one option," Root noted.

"This signifies that we’re approaching this series with a fresh strategy and a different way of attacking than in the past, which I find exhilarating. You’ve witnessed what Archer and Wood can accomplish at the international level, and when they’re fit and performing at their best, they can turn games around and pose a significant threat. They provide an angle we haven’t had on prior tours."

For Root personally, the Ashes represent incomplete business. Despite playing 14 Tests in Australia, he has yet to score a century there. However, he emphasizes that his focus is more on team success than individual achievements.

"This tour is not about me hitting a century," Root emphasized. "It’s about the team winning the Ashes series. As an experienced player, if I can score big runs and centuries, it enhances our chances of achieving that goal.

“It’s about understanding my role within the team, building substantial scores together, as we have done over the summer and the past couple of years. Hopefully, this leads to winning matches. If personal accolades follow, that’s a bonus.

With a blend of renewed confidence, a fresh strategy, and the return of genuine pace, Root believes England is poised to challenge Australia like never before in their pursuit of reclaiming the urn.