Adelaide, 21 December 2025:
England coach Brendon McCullum acknowledged shortcomings in his team’s preparation after Australia sealed the Ashes with an 82-run victory on the fifth day of the third Test at Adelaide Oval.
The defeat handed Australia an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series, confirming England’s latest Ashes loss in Australia after heavy defeats in the opening two Tests.
England’s build-up to the series, which included only one warm-up match against an England Lions development side, has been widely questioned. McCullum admitted mistakes had been made.
“It is disappointing when you lose and I’m sure there will be plenty of questions asked and rightly so,” McCullum told BBC Test Match Special. “We haven’t got everything right. I haven’t got everything right as a coach and I put my hand up for that.”
McCullum’s comments marked a shift in tone from an England hierarchy that has typically backed its decisions. The Lions match mirrored England’s preparation for recent overseas tours, including series in India and Pakistan, where the team opted against extensive warm-up fixtures.
“Maybe we didn’t get that right and I’ll acknowledge that,” McCullum said. “Ultimately, you are responsible for how you get your side ready. We are 3-0 down, so you would probably say there was room for change.”
England also chose not to play a pink-ball practice match before the day-night second Test, instead holding extended training sessions in Brisbane. McCullum later suggested the approach may have been counterproductive.
“A few things you look at retrospectively,” he said. “I was confident we had it right, but obviously we didn’t.”
Assessing the series, McCullum said England’s bowlers lacked accuracy and the batters failed to score enough runs, while praising Australia as “as precise as a team as I’ve seen in the last few years.”
He added that England’s determination and expectations may have proved restrictive, saying the team played its best cricket only when it relaxed late in the Adelaide Test.
“When you’re under immense pressure, decision-making can become blurred,” McCullum said. “That’s probably the disappointing aspect.”
Questions are now expected over the futures of McCullum, captain Ben Stokes and managing director Rob Key as England look to avoid a series whitewash in the remaining Tests in Melbourne and Sydney.
