England captain Ben Stokes drew criticism after England’s Ashes defeat when he gave a blunt and sarcastic answer about what he might have done differently in the first three Tests. The veteran all-rounder joked about changing the coin tosses, and the remark did not go down well with fans and cricket experts.
England suffered an 82-run defeat in the third Test in Adelaide and conceded a 0-3 series loss to Australia. They arrived in Australia with confidence and high hopes but were outplayed throughout the series. As in the first two matches, England let crucial moments slip and failed to turn chances into pressure on the hosts.
England’s Long Australian Struggle Continues as Ashes Slip Away
England suffered their 16th loss in their last 18 Tests on Australian soil. They have not won a Test in Australia since the 2010-11 Ashes and have not held the Ashes urn since their home series win in 2015.
The tour began with promise in Perth, but England failed to build on a strong opening day and slipped to heavy defeats in the first two Tests. They showed more fight in Adelaide with a brave final-innings effort, but a big first-innings gap again left them with too much to do.
With the series already gone, England are now left playing for pride in the final two matches. They will focus on avoiding another whitewash. The Boxing Day Test between England and Australia will be played at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on December 26.
Called Head First Two Coin Tosses – Ben Stokes
When asked if he would change anything from England’s first three Tests, Ben Stokes gave a response that focused only on the coin tosses. It is worth mentioning that England lost the first two matches despite winning the tosses.
“Called heads first two (coin tosses) and won this one,” Ben Stokes said.
“Called heads first two (coin tosses) and won this one.”
🗣️ Ben Stokes on if there’s anything he would’ve done differently over the first three matches | #Ashes pic.twitter.com/67c948z8xx
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) December 21, 2025
Ben Stokes’ England Fall Short in Adelaide Despite Late Resistance in Chase
England’s chase ended on the final day in Adelaide when they were bowled out for 352 while trying to reach a tough target of 435. Jamie Smith, Will Jacks, and Brydon Carse showed some fight with the bat, but it was not enough to save the match.
England’s Bazball approach puts pressure on the opposition, but it also means England’s bowlers get very little time to rest between innings. The top order has struggled, which has forced players like Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer to spend extra time batting.
Archer bowled well in the first innings and picked up five wickets. However, later, he bowled fewer overs and did not look as threatening. Stokes’ situation is even more worrying, as his fitness is now in question.
With another Test coming up within a week, followed soon by the New Year’s Test in Sydney, England are concerned about whether Stokes will be fit enough to continue in the series.
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