India, Nov. 20 -- If there was one rule Australia followed without fail during Virat Kohli's peak Test years, it was to avoid taunting him - "don't poke the bear." And now, the Aussies are preparing to use the same blueprint against England captain Ben Stokes when the much-anticipated Ashes series begins on Friday in Perth.

Addressing the media at the Optus Stadium, Australia's acting skipper Steve Smith explained that their series-long strategy will be to keep Stokes under control, aware that provoking him has often backfired in the past.

"I think he's done a terrific job with England over the past couple of years," Smith said on Thursday.

"The style they play suits them, led by him and Baz [Brendon McCullum] obviously, so he's done a...