'They’ve done well against others, but haven’t come up against us' - Paul Collingwood's confident claims ahead of Ashes 2023

Australia will be aiming to carry the confidence into their next major event of the year - The Ashes 2023 vs. England, which begins on Friday at Edgbaston - as they would be basking in the glory of winning the World Test Championship (WTC) and becoming the first team to win major trophies in all three formats with a demolition job of India by 209 runs.

But England is a totally different team from India, who were woefully unprepared for the WTC final. They have made progress in the red-ball format over the past year, redefining Test cricket in the process. The cricketing community has given it the name "Bazball," emulating their head coach Brendon McCullum's moniker. Even while England doesn't truly subscribe to any of these concepts, they do have faith in the character traits that have allowed them to transform Test cricket.

It was sampled by nations like India and New Zealand last year, and now it's Australia's turn. Since the last Ashes in Australia, there has been a tectonic shift in the English dressing room, and in 2023, England won't let the urn walk away so easily.

‘I know these guys, they’ll probably try to go a little bit harder!’ – Paul Collingwood

In response to a question from Cricketnext, Paul Collingwood remarked that while England won't adjust their strategy, they also won't let up just because they're playing the Australians. “Very similar to what we have been doing in the past years. Not just because it’s the Ashes, we are not going to approach it in any different way. The guys have had fun playing in this manner, they have enjoyed each other’s company be it on or off the field. It is just about stripping the pressure away from the players and playing like a group of friends. A group of best friends in the part, enjoying each other’s company. (chuckles)

“If you get that mentality, the value and skill that you bring to training, and take that into the match and have no consequences then you can get the best out of your ability. No way that they gonna take the foot off the pedal just because it’s against Australia. In fact, I know these guys, they’ll probably try to go a little bit harder!”, Collingwood stated.