Stuart Broad feels optimism over England Ashes chances

Stuart Broad believes England are ready to hit their peak just in time for this winter's Ashes.

The England bowler, along with England Women captain Heather Knight, attended a charity event at Downing Street on Tuesday as part of an initiative with Chance to Shine, where they took part in a cricket match in what was the first time any sport has been played on the street.

The pair met the Prime Minister and children from London boroughs Redbridge, Lambeth and Tower Hamlets, displaying some skills as they played with the children as part of the scheme which aims to give young people the chance to play and learn through cricket, championing diversity and inclusion in the game.

England travel to Australia later this year looking to retain the urn on the back of series summer victories over South Africa and West Indies, and Broad said: "This is our time as a team, we have been building to this for a while."

"Importantly, we have got experienced players but now we have those mid-experienced players up at 35, 40, 45 Tests and that is when you begin to learn as a player how to get your team out of trouble or how to put your foot on the throat so to speak.

"It is hard not to be [optimistic]."

The 31-year-old has amassed 109 Test caps for England and feels the team, which has at times this year come under scrutiny, has the strength in depth to shine in Australia.

"We have got Joe Root in the side and every time he walks on the field he gets a 50. Stokesy, no one knows what is going to happen but it is very exciting," he said.

"Rocky [Mark Stoneman] looks quite nice at the top of the order, a very tough character, no-nonsense and plays a simplistic game, which suits the Australian pitches like Michael Vaughan used to.

"The bowling attack has been relatively consistent, the emergence of Moeen Ali's bowling has been awesome for us.

"There seems to be someone different in each Test standing up from the bowling unit and that is what you want - actually it is quite hard to pick the six seamers and someone is going to be disappointed when the squad is announced."

Broad also insisted the heel issue which hampered him in England's third Test against Windies at Lord's will not prevent him from playing during the winter.

He was set to have a precautionary scan after his visit to Downing Street.

"It is fine," he said of the problem.

"Nothing has changed feelings-wise but there are certainly no doubts leading into the winter.

"There are no worries, if there was a Test next week I think I would be fit to play, it has not deteriorated throughout the summer."

Chance to Shine is giving millions of young people the opportunity to play and learn through cricket.