England captain Ben Stokes was criticized after England’s Ashes defeat when he gave a blunt and sarcastic answer about what he might have done differently in the first three Test matches. The veteran all-rounder made fun of changing the coin toss and the comment did not go down well with fans and cricket experts.
England suffered an 82-run defeat in the third Test in Adelaide, losing the series to Australia 0–3. They arrived in Australia with confidence and high expectations but were beaten throughout the series. Like the first two matches, England missed crucial moments and failed to put pressure on the hosts.
England’s long Australian struggle continues despite Ashes slip away
England suffered their 16th defeat in their last 18 Test matches on Australian soil. They have not won a Test in Australia since the 2010–11 Ashes and have not held the Ashes urn since winning their home series in 2015.
The tour began with promise in Perth, but England failed to produce a strong performance on the first day and suffered heavy defeats in the first two Tests. He showed more fight in Adelaide with a bold last innings effort, but again had a lot to do with the big first innings lead.
With the series already over, England are now playing for respect in the final two matches. They will focus on avoiding another whitewash. The Boxing Day Test between England and Australia will be played on 26 December at the prestigious Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne.
Heads toss the first two coins – Ben Stokes
Asked if he would make any changes in England’s first three Test matches, Ben Stokes gave an answer that was solely focused on the coin toss. It is noteworthy that England lost the first two matches despite winning the toss.
“Called the first two heads (tossing coins) and won it,” Ben Stokes said.
“The first two (tossing coins) called heads and won.”
Ben Stokes said that if something like this had happened then he would have done something different in the first three matches. #ash pic.twitter.com/67c948z8xx
– 7cricket (@7cricket) 21 December 2025
Ben Stokes’s England lose in Adelaide despite late resistance in chase
England’s challenge 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 Jacques and Braydon Carse showed some fight with the bat, but it was not enough to save the match.
England’s baseball approach puts pressure on the opponent, but also means that England’s bowlers get little time to rest between innings. The top order has been struggling, forcing players like Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer to spend extra time batting.
Archer bowled well in the first innings and took five wickets. However, later on he bowled fewer overs and did not look as dangerous. Stokes’s situation is even more worrying, because his fitness is now under question.
With another Test coming up in a week’s time, followed soon after by the New Year’s Test in Sydney, England remain concerned about whether Stokes will be fit enough to continue in the series.
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