“I’m going to take him on”: England star fires warning to Nathan Lyon

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Only three spinners in the history of the game have taken more wickets than Nathan Lyon, who finished the last cycle of the World Test Championship as its leading wicket-taker with 88.

But the 35-year-old’s record won’t stop England from going after him with their new aggressive style of play.

And Harry Brook has confirmed exactly what Lyon can expect from him at Edgbaston in this week's first Test of the series.

“If he bowls a good ball then I’m going to respect it. But other than that, I’m going to try and take him on. He could get a lot of wickets, but hopefully we’re going to hit him for a lot of runs.

“I’d like to think I’m a player who can find gaps and hit different gaps, I try and play all around the wicket. I’ll see whatever field he has; I’m sure they’ll probably start with everybody up and we’ll go from there.”

Brook has enjoyed a remarkable start to his Test career, averaging 81.80 with four centuries to his name after seven Tests.

“I probably wasn’t thinking I was going to have that start, but I’d take it every day of the week. It’s been a whirlwind six months really, the best winter I could have ever asked for and long may it continue.

“I’m looking forward to the Ashes. Australia are one of the best teams in the world off the back of a World Test Championship win, and I’ve always wanted to play against the best players in the world and see how good I really am.

“I’m looking forward to facing those boys and challenging myself against them and whatever plans they have against me.”

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And the talented 24-year-old is looking forward to a chance to play in the series that inspired him as a youngster.

"It's definitely a dream come true to be involved in my first Ashes. I was growing up watching the very best players from England and Australia facing each other.

"Obviously the 2005 Ashes was a big one. I can always remember the over (Andrew) Flintoff bowled to (Ricky) Ponting and KP (Kevin Pietersen) smacking it everywhere against (Shane) Warne and (Glenn) McGrath, those boys.

"They were my earliest memories. I'm going to go out there and play the way I have done in the last 12 months. I hope that's enough to inspire a few too."

But there could be some pressure on Brook after a relatively disappointing stint in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Brook scored a superb century early in the competition, but ended the IPL having scored just 90 runs in his other ten visits to the crease, finishing with an average of 21.11 and strike-rate of 123.37.

However, Brook isn’t perturbed by that lack of runs, and isn’t expecting it to have any knock-on effect on his Ashes performances.

“It’s a different format, different environment,” he said.

“I’ve said plenty of times that this environment’s the best I’ve been in and I’m going to go out there and be fearless.”

The Ashes begin on Friday at Edgbaston, with England having already named their starting XI for that first Test.

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First Test: June 16 - June 20, Edgbaston
Second Test: June 28 - July 2, Lord’s
Third Test: July 6 - July 10, Headingley
Fourth Test: July 19 - July 23, Old Trafford
Fifth Test: July 27 - July 31, The Oval