England 'have been building to this moment' - McCullum

Coach Brendon McCullum believes his England team are ready for an Ashes series that could "define" them.

McCullum and captain Ben Stokes have revitalised the England Test team since taking charge in 2022.

The New Zealander said they have been "building to this moment", with the first Test against Australia in Perth beginning on Friday (02:20 GMT).

In his only interview since arriving in Australia, McCullum told BBC Sport: "There's nothing bigger than what we're about to come into."

Speaking to Test Match Special commentator and former England spinner Phil Tufnell, McCullum added: "This team has been together for a good couple of years and we have been building towards this moment.

"It is the biggest stage and it is the brightest lights. It is a series that could define teams, the people and players within it. That's OK.

"You know you're ready, you know you have the game to compete at this level. Stay together, play the style you have become accustomed to and we'll see in a couple of months where we land."

England are due to confirm their XI for the first Test on Thursday, with spinner Shoaib Bashir likely to miss out from the 12-man squad named on Wednesday.

That would mean the tourists will field a five-man pace attack, probably the fastest group of bowlers they have ever put together for a Test match.

"I'm super excited and probably a little bit more relaxed now than I was a few weeks ago," said former New Zealand captain McCullum.

"We've got our team to the start line. I feel like our horse is going to run well. Whether we find another horse in the race that is better than us, who knows."

England had won only one their previous 17 Tests, including a 4-0 defeat on their last Ashes tour, when McCullum and Stokes united in the summer of 2022.

They revolutionised England's style of play, built a new team with a number of young players and earned impressive series wins at home against New Zealand and South Africa, then again against the Kiwis and Pakistan.

But England have not managed a victory in a marquee five-Test series against either Australia or India, including a 2-2 draw in the last home Ashes in 2023.

England have not won a single Test in Australia since their last series win in this country 14 years ago. Only five England teams have won Ashes series in Australia since World War II.

England 12-man squad: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir.

Australia XI: Usman Khawaja, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (captain), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland, Brendan Doggett.

"For this team, it will define the progress we've made," said McCullum. "For Stokesy to be able to lead an England team to an Ashes win away from home would be huge.

"We understand all of that stuff, but it's about living in the moment and dealing with what comes. We'll be challenged on this tour. We'll have good days and bad days.

"As long as we keep moving towards the target, then we'll give ourselves the best chance."

England have received a hostile reception in Perth, attracting attention from the West Australian newspaper. Thursday's front page labelled the visitors "arrogant Bazballing Poms".

McCullum said the hype around the Ashes is "pretty cool", comparing it to the low-key nature of his time playing for New Zealand.

"I feel lucky to be in the position we're in. We understand the size of the task, but we ain't trying to cure cancer. We're trying to win a few games of cricket. We're trying to represent all that has gone before, live in the moment and achieve the task at hand.

"Yes, there is going to be pressure, but just be yourself, lads. Do the best job you possibly can and we'll see where we land."

On Wednesday, Stokes called on his team to "create history". The opening Test will be the all-rounder's first appearance since injuring his shoulder in July and McCullum said Stokes is "absolutely flying".

"Emotionally he is in the best place I've seen him," said McCullum. "From a leadership point of view I've not seen him in a better space. He's ready to go. He knows this is a huge moment for him."

Stokes has not completed any of England's past four series because of various injuries and his ability to stay fit for the five Tests will be crucial to his team's chances of lifting the urn.

"The last couple of injuries I've had have been a race against time from getting injured to the next series," Stokes told BBC Sport. "This one was months away and the injury itself, it was seven or eight weeks before I was bowling again, so I had loads of time to get my loads back up and get everything in order."

Stokes will take his place in the England attack, probably along express paceman Mark Wood, who is set to play his first Test since August 2024 after elbow and knee injuries.

"He's flying," said Stokes. "He's had all his injury troubles and all that kind of stuff, but he's been bowling for a long, long time.

"He has always been someone who can just hit the ground running in a game. He's bowling rapid."

Australia are without captain Pat Cummins and fellow pace bowler Josh Hazlewood, with Steve Smith stepping up as skipper.

The home side have named their XI. Opener Jake Weatherald and pace bowler Brendan Doggett are handed debuts, and all-rounder Beau Webster misses out.

In a bizarre address to the media, Smith took aim at former England spinner Monty Panesar.

Panesar previously said England should make Smith "feel guilty" about his role in the Sandpapergate ball-tampering scandal against South Africa, which cost the batter his job as full-time Australia captain in 2018.

Smith referred to Panesar's appearance on BBC TV show Mastermind, when he managed only one correct answer.

"I'm going to go off topic here," said Smith. "Who of you in the room has seen Mastermind, and Monty Panesar on that? Any of you?

"Those of you that have will understand where I'm coming from. If you haven't, do yourself a favour because it is pretty comical.

"Anyone who believes that Athens is in Germany, Oliver Twist is a season of the year, and America is a city, it doesn't really bother me those comments. That's as far as I'll go with that one."