England unable to hold out as Australia retain the Ashes
Stokes aims to continue as captain despite Ashes loss
Before this series, the 34-year-old signed a new England central contract that extends until the conclusion of the next Ashes in the UK in 2027. The defeat in this series, which was finalized within just 11 days of cricket during the first three Tests, is likely to place pressure on the roles of McCullum and director of cricket Rob Key. Because of Stokes’ significance and impact on the England squad, the Durham player would likely be allowed to maintain the captaincy if he desires to do so. He has a troubled injury record—Stokes has battled knee, hamstring, and shoulder issues over the last two years. Furthermore, the captain has clearly invested a substantial amount of emotional effort into this series. After being dismissed in the second innings of the second Test in Brisbane and later again in the first innings in Adelaide, he expressed his frustration by tossing his bat into the air. When asked if he still possesses the energy for the role, Stokes responded: “Absolutely.” Following his 83 runs in over five hours at the crease during the first innings, Stokes did not bowl on the third day in Adelaide before taking the ball at the start of day four. “I just didn’t feel right,” he mentioned. “I understood I still had a significant role to fulfill, so I didn’t want to put myself at risk. I felt as if I might snap every time I chased a ball, so I decided to look after myself. I had a restful night’s sleep, woke up the next morning, and I was ready to go again, but I actually heeded the advice that was shared with me for a change by several of the senior players.”
Published: 2025-12-21 06:39:00
source: www.bbc.com
