I put my hand up as a coach, Brendon McCullum's honest confession after England lose Ashes series

England coach Brendon McCullum was left gutted after England lost the Ashes 2025-26 series following their 82-run defeat against Australia in the third Test on December 21. He didn't shy away from confession that Ben Stokes-led England were under prepared, which eventually cost them the series. This loss allowed Australia to retain the Ashes with a commanding 3-0 lead. The swift collapse of Ben Stokes and his squad has sparked intense criticism, as the 'Bazball' approach failed to gain any traction against a dominant Australian side.

Brendon McCullum holds accountable for England's Ashes 2025-26 disaster

The team’s lead-up to the series has been a major point of contention for fans and pundits alike. Rather than prioritising red-ball acclimatization, England opted for a white-ball tour of New Zealand followed by a solitary intra-squad match on a slow club ground in Perth. This lack of proper conditioning was painfully evident in the first Test, where the squad crumbled in only two days, setting a dismal tone for the remainder of the series.

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I haven’t got everything right as a coach: McCullum

In a candid post-match press conference, McCullum took full responsibility for the defeat, admitting that both he and the team failed to get several key elements right. He conceded that his signature coaching philosophy—which favors a relaxed, 'light' atmosphere before major away series, was ill-suited for the unique rigors of an Australian tour.

“I’m sure there will be plenty of questions asked and rightfully so. We haven’t got everything right and I haven’t got everything right as a coach either. Ultimately [as head coach] you are responsible for how you get your side ready and prepare them. I had conviction in our methods, not just leading into the first Test but also in between Tests," McCullum said.

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Reflecting on the team's early struggles, McCullum questioned whether their initial approach was sufficient for such a high-stakes series. He expressed genuine uncertainty regarding their training intensity, wondering if a more rigorous and structured preparation phase prior to the opening match might have altered the outcome.

“I look back now and think ‘did we need more leading into the first and did we need less leading into the second?’ We lost 3-0 so you would probably say there was room for change there. Again, you put your hand up as a coach and say you might not have got that right. I felt it would give us our best chance because it has previously. Sitting here 3-0, it didn’t work,” McCullum concluded.