Overall, England played 46 Tests under McCullum and Stokes, winning 26 and losing 18 Tests to go with two draws. It remains to be seen if England retain McCullum and Stokes as coach and the captain before the start of home summer in June later this year. 

Ex-England bowler Chris Woakes delivers 'would be a bit daft' verdict on future of Bazball

Barring a few things, all went wrong for England and Bazball in Australia this time as they conceded the away Ashes (1-4).

‘Underprepared, cafe outings after Perth loss, disobeying captain Stokes’ - ENG's shock Ashes details revealed

The five-Test series, which had 25 playing days, was decided in just 11 days with five of those coming in the last Test in Sydney with England losing 1-4, winning only the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.

End of bazball? ECB vows to make ‘necessary changes.’ What it means for McCullum and Stokes

Stokes bowled more than 100 overs in the series, second most for England after Brydon Carse's 130+ overs. Along with additional duties of batting and leading the side, the workload was bound to take its toll and it did, thankfully in the second last innings England would bowl.

Ashes 2025-26: Ben Stokes sustains groin injury as England look at defeat in Sydney Test

Stokes, however, had the last laugh as he dismissed Labushchagne, batting at 48, when he chased a wide ball and gave a catch to Jacob Bethell in gully. Not words followed after that.

Ashes 2025-26: Stokes-Labuschagne get into heated exchange on day 2 of Sydney Test | WATCH

England bowled Australia out for a paltry 152 in the first innings in just 45.2 overs. The visitors, who are trailing 0-3 in the five-match series, however, could not take advatange given by their bowlers and were bowled out for 110 in reply.

Ashes 2025-26: Ex-England skipper Alastair Cook says 'unfair contest' after 20 wickets fall on day 1 of Boxing Day Test

With Duckett’s morale, the English Team and their little hopes of making any comeback in this five-match series, all in tartars, Stokes vows to handle this situation better ahead of the marquee Test at the iconic MCG starting Friday (Dec 26). 

Ashes: Ben Stokes vows to handle Duckett’s ‘viral drunk video episode’ better ahead of Boxing Day Test

While Stokes' demand isn't unfair, England, as a team, has failed to live up to their end of the bargain and give fans something to cheer for as they trail 0-3 in five-Test Ashes with hopes of winning the urn in Australia buried deep until the next tour Down Under.

Ashes 2025-26: Ben Stokes wants 'empathy' for England players amid horrid performance

The idea, as told by coach Brendon McCullum, was to make the team feel fresh during the do-or-die Test. England, however, lost the match by 82 runs as Australia took an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-Test series.

England managing director Robert Key vows to investigate Noosa break drinking

McCullum-Stokes have won 25 Tests and lost 17 while drawing only two. The results started going off the mark since 2024 and England have lost more (13) matches since than they have won (12). 

'I don't know,' says McCullum about staying on as England coach in next summer

While Australia won the Perth Test inside two days, they reigned supreme in the Pink-Ball Test at the Gabba in Brisbane before knocking England off in Adelaide to retain the Ashes.

‘The dream is now over,’ England captain Ben Stokes reacts to crushing Ashes defeat

Playing in the morning session of Day 3, on the first ball of the 85th over, Stokes was castled by Starc, after the English batter was seen jumping and leaving the field in frustration.

Watch: Angry Ben Stokes jumps in frustration as Mitchell Starc castles English batter

Stokes said after the Gabba defeat that Australia was "no place for weak men" and admitted to hard dressing-room discussions in the aftermath.

Ashes: Ben Stokes tells England players to ‘show a bit of dog’ in Adelaide Test

The criticism comes after England fell to 0-2 scoreline in the ongoing Ashes Down Under with three matches left. The context for Vaughan's comments was pre-series mockery of Australian team age profile, which is 30-plus, by England media and players.

Ashes 2025-26: Ex-skipper Michael Vaughan calls current England team selection 'suggestions of weak men' amid horror run

The idea behind not picking up Bashir could be Test being played by pink ball where spinners have played historically a lesser role. Stokes also said that if they were to select a proper spinner then England would have gone with Bashir.

Ashes 2025-26: 'If we wanted out best spinner then Bashir would have played,' says Stokes on picking Will Jacks for Brisbane Test

Stokes said being under the microscope was part and parcel of being on tour in Australia, and he was not letting it get to him.

‘Australia is the best country…,’ Stokes on enjoying life Down Under amid crushing Ashes start

A total of 19 wickets fell on the day for 295 total between both the teams. At the stumps, Australia were 123/9 with still 59 runs needed to level England's first innings total of 172. Harry Brook's 52 was the highest score by a batter across both teams.

Ashes, 1st Test: Express bowling, poor batting headline 19-wicket opening day in Perth

Ashes 2025-26 preview: The battle for the Urn begins as England look to end 14  years of agony in Australia

This will be the first time Australia playing XI will feature two aboriginal players in Doggett and Scott Boland. The pacers are filling in for injured Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood. Marnus Labuschagne also makes a comeback to the side.

Ashes 2025-26: Australia include two aboriginal players for first time as they announce playing XI for Perth Test

Ben Stokes is determined to lead England to their first Ashes win in Australia since 2010/11, aiming to join an elite group of successful captains

Ashes 2025-26: Ben Stokes sets sights on victory in Australia, says 'I want to be among the few'

England dropped a heavy hint of their plans for the opening Test in Perth next week by selecting an all-pace attack, omitting spinner Shoaib Bashir.

Ashes 2025: Major blow to England as Mark Wood sent for scan after hamstring stiffness

From Steve Smith to Joe Root here is a look at five active batters with most runs in Ashes. The list also features the likes of Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow and Usman Khawaja as the latest Ashes is set to get underway in Australia on Nov 21. 

From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes

The Test squad will assemble in Western Australia on Monday, where England Lions will join them to prepare for the three-day game starting November 13, eight days before the series opener.

‘He has to deliver,’ Vaughan pushes England captain Ben Stokes for Ashes urn Down Under

From Joe Root to Steve Smith, here's a look at the top five active batters with most runs in Test cricket. This list also includes Kane Williamson, Ben Stokes and Dinesh Chandimal

From Joe Root to Dinesh Chandimal, 5 active batters with most runs in Test cricket, surprisingly no Indian on list

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Ex-England bowler Chris Woakes delivers 'would be a bit daft' verdict on future of Bazball

SHOCK Ashes details revealed - 'ENG was underprepared; players disobeyed Stokes'

End of bazball? ECB vows to make ‘necessary changes' in aftermath of Ashes

Ashes: Ben Stokes sustains groin injury as England look at defeat in Sydney Test

Ashes: WATCH | Stokes and Labuschagne in heated exchange in Sydney

Ashes: Cook says 'unfair contest' as 20 wickets fall on day 1 of Boxing Day Test

Ashes: Ben Stokes vows to handle Duckett’s ‘viral drunk video episode’ better

Ashes: Ben Stokes wants 'empathy' for England players amid horrid performance

England managing director Robert Key vows to investigate Noosa break drinking

'I don't know,' says McCullum about staying on as England coach in next summer

‘The dream is now over,’ England captain Stokes reacts to crushing Ashes defeat

Watch: Angry Stokes jumps in frustration as Starc castles English batter

Ashes: Ben Stokes tells England players to ‘show a bit of dog’ in Adelaide Test

Ashes 2025-26: Ex-skipper Michael Vaughan calls current England team selection 'suggestions of weak men' amid horror run

Ashes: England picked Jacks because they didn't want best spinner in Brisbane?

Ashes - ‘Australia is the best country…,’ ENG captain Stokes on life Down Under

Ashes: Express bowling, poor batting headline 19-wicket opening day in Perth

Ashes 2025-26 preview: England look to end 14 years of agony in Australia

Ashes: Australia name playing XI for Perth Test with two aboriginal players

Ben Stokes sets sights on win in Australia, says 'I want to be among the few'

Ashes 2025: Major blow to ENG as Wood sent for scan after hamstring stiffness

From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes

‘He has to deliver,’ Vaughan pushes ENG captain Stokes for Ashes urn Down Under

5 active batters with most runs in Test cricket, surprisingly no Indian on list