BEN STOKES fired the starting gun on the Ashes countdown as he admitted the first step to beating Australia was ruthless selection.
Today's first Test against West Indies at Lord's will be a farewell to Jimmy Anderson, with England deciding it's time to retire their record-breaking opening bowler.
And the England captain admitted 188-cap wonder Anderson has been asked to step down with one target in mind: a first Ashes win since 2015.
Stokes said: "Look at where we've got to go in 18 months' time - to Australia. We want to win that urn back.
"We don't want to be standing still.
"It's been five months since we played a Test match, that's a lot of time to think about how you can take the team forward.
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