The Ashes 2025: Stephen Finn talks about the tour of Australia as an English player

In this first Test of 2010, we conceded a first innings deficit of 211 runs. 35,000 Australians were setting foot on the massive concrete stadium, rising for English blood in a procession towards another Australian victory.

Famously, Alastair Cook, Andrew Strauss and Jonathan Trott weathered the noise to amass 517-1 in the second innings. The test was done, but it looked like we won.

You can feel the discourse towards us changing. The people who had been so thrilled when they told us we would be annihilated, slowly began to express how much they respected the way we fought and that they loved seeing the competition.

Planning is important, but so is living in the moment. England teams have often gone to Australia with preconceived ideas about the conditions they will face.

The ability to read conditions and adapt is crucial. At the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 2010, David Sacker, England’s bowling coach, was firmly convinced that bowling was the number one way to win a Test.

We bowled Australia out for 98 and won by an innings. Being bold in decision making will serve England well.

Finally, luck is also a big part of success in Australia.

In 2010, Australia did not have a spinner, there were question marks over the great Ricky Ponting who was nearing the end of his career and uncertainty about the bowlers.

Australia selected a 17-man squad for the first Test, more players than we had throughout the three-month tour of the country. Catching up with Australia in a transitional period could be crucial.

On this occasion, injuries to Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood gave England the chance to take on an Australia side whose cracks were perhaps starting to show for the first time since 2010.

There are many challenges that come with playing in an Ashes series off the field, on and off the field.

The Stars may be heading for England to achieve a real win in Australia for the first time in 15 years.