The “Bazball” era has hit its most turbulent patch yet as England’s 2025-26 Ashes campaign ended in heartbreak within just 11 days of cricket.
Following an 82-run defeat in the third Test at Adelaide on December 21, Australia has taken an unassailable 3-0 lead, retaining the urn and leaving England head coach Brendon McCullum facing intense scrutiny.
England’s ambitious quest to reclaim the Ashes on Australian soil has ended in a familiar, bruising heartbreak. It took just 11 days of play for Australia to dismantle the “Bazball” revolution, securing an unassailable 3-0 lead after a decisive 82-run victory in the third Test at Adelaide.
As the team moves toward the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, the focus has shifted from the pitch to the dugout. Head coach Brendon McCullum, once the untouchable architect of England’s aggressive revival, now finds himself in the crosshairs of global scrutiny.
When asked about his future as England’s head coach, McCullum admitted that the decision was not in his control, but made it clear that he would like to continue in the role.
“I don’t know. It’s not really up to me, is it?” McCullum said.
“I’ll just keep trying to do the job, learn the lessons that I haven’t quite got right here, and make some adjustments. Those questions are for someone else.”
Despite the Ashes being out of reach, McCullum insisted England are determined to compete hard in the remaining two Tests at Melbourne and Sydney.
“This is going to sting, no doubt,” he admitted. “But we know we’ve got a job to do. If we can salvage something out of the next two Test matches, then that’s important for us.”
McCullum, who is contracted with England through to the 2027 World Cup, believes progress has been made since he took over, even if results in Australia have once again fallen short.
“We’re not the finished article, but we’ve definitely improved as a cricket team. We’ve had an identity about us. Now’s the time to really show that identity in the last two Tests.”
As Australia beat England and the visitors look to avoid another Ashes whitewash down under, McCullum’s future remains uncertain. However, for now, the England head coach appears focused on learning from setbacks and continuing to build toward long-term success.
