Former England all-rounder Paul Collingwood has declared that Ben Stokes will take the game to Australia when the Ashes begin later this week.
The 24-year-old was one of the only Three Lions players to come out of the last series in Australia with credit as he scored his maiden Test century in Perth under a barrage of fast bowling from Mitchell Johnson.
Collingwood has warned that the Baggy Greens will have to expect the same from the Durham man, and he feels that he will be up for the fight once again.
He told Sky Sports News: "He likes a contest, so I think if the Aussies get stuck into him, he really does thrive on that. He does enjoy the contest.
"The Aussies have experienced him in Australia when they won 5-0 and he had a pretty good series over there against them, and he is someone who will be up for the fight.
"He will certainly not take a backward step. He's an aggressive player - he's another of these match-winners and if he comes off, he's going to cause some serious damage to the opposition."
The first Test begins at Sophia Gardens on Wednesday.
Simon Sinclair
