Ashes 2025-26 report card: Where do Australia and England go from here

The Ashes result was decided in 11 days – a series expected to go down to the wire, especially after England’s resurgence in Test cricket under Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes following the disastrous 2021-22 Australian tour.

In that regards, Ashes 2025-26 proved deeply disappointing.

Just before the Ashes, against India, pundits had called the England vs India series as comparable to the 2005 Ashes or even better.

Expectations were sky-high, with Ben Stokes regaining his all-round form, Jofra Archer’s comeback on track and Ben Duckett shining as England’s best all-format players.

England surrendered the urn after silky cricket at home in 2023 where they dominated the last three Tests. Fans expected them to show resolve, absorb pressure in crunch moments and dominate by reading the game.

Yet right before the start, England looked underprepared. They skipped warm-ups, denying batters the feel of Australian conditions and bowlers the overs needed to build stamina for Test cricket’s grind.

Archer bowling at 130 km/h on day two at Perth showed he lacked match fitness; unsurprisingly, after looking England’s best at Adelaide post the first two Tests, he broke down. England had moments to seize but lacked the discipline and mental strength of Australia, where every player stood up when it mattered.

Mark Wood should never have toured after not playing any competitive cricket since Champions Trophy earlier this year; his Ashes not surprisingly ended after just 11 overs in both innings at Perth.

Gus Atkinson neared his best in the fourth Test, only to get injured. Josh Tongue, entering in the third Test at Adelaide and winning Player of the Match in the fourth at Melbourne, leaves with an enhanced reputation among few England standouts.

He took 18 wickets and would make a any combined Ashes XI.

Brydon Carse’s 22 wickets across five Tests – bettered historically only by James Anderson and Ian Botham – don’t tell the full story, as he often sprayed the ball, much like Joe Root, who averaged 44.44 while taking out two hundreds in 10 innings.

The biggest disappointment was Zak Crawley, averaging 27 on his second away Ashes tour.

He failed to live up to the billing from Brendon McCullum, Ben Stokes, and Rob Key as the ideal opener in Australia.

He’ll face scrutiny this home summer.

Jacob Bethell leaves with his reputation enhanced, stamping his authority as England’s No. 3 for the next decade. England rightly backed Ollie Pope initially, sticking with personnel trusted over the last three years.

As expected, Pope started decently (46 and 33) but faded.

Questions will arise over the current regime, but no one wants a return to the old, boring, and unsuccessful pre-Bazball era.

Critics accuse it of fostering a no-consequences environment that’s now backfiring. A big loss like 4-1 in what McCullum called “the most important series of their lives” felt inevitable.

Off-field issues – Harry Brook’s discipline problems in New Zealand and the Noosa incident during the series – intensified scrutiny after Stokes dismissed ex-cricketers as “has-beens,” undoubtedly angering them.

For Australia, Travis Head’s three centuries and 629 runs paved the way for the series win.

His 123 at Perth shell-shocked England, from which they never recovered as Australia took an unassailable 3-0 lead.

It’s hard to look past him as an opener now.

Alex Carey’s 323 runs at 46.14 came in crisis.

At Adelaide – a first-innings century (106) and second-innings half-century (72) sealed the series.

Mitch Starc, without Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, and Nathan Lyon for stretches, shouldered the load with 31 wickets in five matches, plus 156 runs including two fifties (highest 77), winning the Compton-Miller Medal as Player of the Series.

Alex Carey reacts after Harry Brook was bowled by Nathan Lyon. (AP Photo/James Elsby)

England shunned pacers hitting 130-135 km/h, but Michael Neser, in just three Tests, took 15 wickets at 19.93 – especially at Brisbane with Carey standing up to the stumps.

Scott Boland, nearing 37, gave his heart and soul. Unlucky not to claim a five-for, he stepped up whenever needed, playing brilliant second fiddle to Starc with 20 wickets at 20.95.

Critics may decry Australia’s “Dad’s Army,” but expect them to rise for Ashes 2027 with Cummins leading.

England might see brighter chances, but Australia’s discipline and ability to seize critical moments outmatch England’s at times senseless cricket.

Axing McCullum after subpar India and Australia tours might be tempting and easy way out, but conviction in what worked – focusing on strengths over weaknesses – is wiser.

McCullum says he remains open to the suggestions or changes.

England needs a quality spinner like Graeme Swann.

Rehan Ahmed could be the answer: he scored five centuries in county cricket this summer (averaging over 50) and took 20+ wickets. England spent two years grooming Shoaib Bashir for the Ashes; now he feels almost unselectable.

Inconsistent selections, like picking Will Jacks – a part-time bowler and batter – highlighted the issue: if the top six can’t win games, what can you expect from No.8?

This tour culminates how Baz’s stubbornness has cost – and will continue to cost – England.

Australia celebrate with the Ashes trophy. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Combined Ashes XI

Travis Head
Jacob Bethell
Steve Smith (c)
Joe Root
Harry Brook
Ben Stokes
Alex Carey
Michael Neser
Mitch Starc
Scott Boland
Josh Tongue

A lot of England players make it to the combined squad thanks to the flashes of brilliance from some of the players especially Root, Harry Brook and Stokes with ball.

This showcase series was for England to seize. Now, England have to find men who can seize the moments.

Australia’s players celebrate after winning the third Ashes Test. (AP Photo/James Elsby)

How England’s team should look:

1. An opener who can survive the first over (e.g., Haseeb Hameed or Dom Sibley—both performed well in county cricket; worth revisiting them).

2. A batter who knows when to leave the ball.

3. Jacob Bethell

4. Joe Root

5. Harry Brook

6. Ben Stokes

7. WK batter (Ben Foakes as a quality wicketkeeper makes the team, especially for away tours).

8. A genuine spinner

9. Josh Tongue

10. Jofra Archer

11. James Anderson replacement

There will be thoughts over grooming the possible replacements for Stokes and Root.

And it is going to be transition phase for England which is likely to coincide with Ashes 2029-30 which will be similar to the transition Australia will face after Lyon, Starc and Hazelwood retire, along with Alex Carey, who will also unlikely to be a part of next Ashes series on home soil.