'Anything less than series win would be a disappointment' - CA chief Nick Hockley on Ashes expectations from Australia

Pat Cummins-led Australia drew first blood in the Ashes after seeing off rivals England in a thrilling series opener in Birmingham. While the Australian camp is rejoicing after their dramatic victory, Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley admits that anything less than a series victory will be a disappointment for the Aussies.

The Australian team ushered into a new era after the controversial departure of Justin Langer from his coaching role and Tim Paine's controversial exit from the leadership role. While Pat Cummins led the team to their first-ever WTC title win against India earlier this month, Hockley is expecting nothing less than an Ashes victory for the Aussies.

“I couldn’t be prouder, but that said we’ve only just begun. There’s four Tests to play and they’re extremely focused on a series win. Anything less would be a disappointment. What’s very clear is the success we’ve seen in the WTC and the Ashes so far is the result of a huge amount of work, preparation, a lot of excellent planning, and I do think this group has had some really formative experiences," Hockley told The Age.

The team has struck a really great balance under Andrew and Pat's leadership: Hockley

The Australian chief executive, who was at the centre of the Justin Langer controversy eighteen months ago, praised the efforts of head coach Andrew McDonald and skipper Pat Cummins. Hockley feels that the players under Cummins' leadership understand the importance of representing the national team and are trying their best to deliver results on the pitch.

“You’ve got a group who understand what they’re representing, and understand it takes super hard work to deliver results. Under Andrew and Pat’s leadership, it’s struck a really great balance of doing everything in their power to perform at the height of their potential, while also having a really calm and focused environment,” he added.