The Australian media in its typical fashion did not shy away from rubbing salts on England’s fresh and deep wounds as they lost the Ashes again. On December 21, England lost the third Test at Adelaide Oval by 82 runs. On December 22, The West Australian published an obituary of ‘Bazball’ – initially England’s famous, but now infamous allout attacking approach – reminiscent of the obituary of England cricket that was published by ‘The Sporting Times’ in 1882 which led to the iconic name of the series, ‘The Ashes’.
“An affectionate remembrance of Bazball, which died at the Oval on 21st December 2025. Deeply lamented by Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes, but basically no one else. R.I.P. Australia win the Ashes, beating woeful Poms in just three matches and 11 days of cricket,” read the mock obituary.
England have been criticised for their approach. They lost the Perth Test as batters looked to attack rather than bat time. In the pink-ball Test, they lacked application as well. Mitchell Starc being in sensational form did not help their cause either. When Pat Cummins returned, Australia did not miss Steve Smith as England continued to implode. Some of their batters abandoned their approach as their ship of Ashes dream had cracks in it. England fought back but old habits crept in again and they lost on Day 5 by 82 runs.
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Stokes was heartbroken and accepted that they were outplayed in all departments by Australia, a team trolled for being old, even labelled by former English pacer Stuart Broad as the ‘worst Australian team since 2010’.
Came for the Ashes, staying for consolation/humiliation
Back after months to play the Adelaide Test, Cummins went on to say that he may not risk getting injured and skip the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). With Nathan Lyon injured and Smith returning, Australia are set to make a few changes.
Meanwhile, the so-called ‘no.1 England spinner’ currently labelled by Stokes clicks pictures of the Adelaide pitch and waits whether he will get a chance at the MCG despite a huge build-up which guided him to nowhere but the bench. As England admit issues with their approach, it is yet to be seen whether the next big thing Jacob Bethell replaces a weary Ollie Pope.
Irrespective of what happens in next two Tests, Stokes’ dream of returning as an Ashes-winning skipper has been buried alongside the Bazball approach that bullied opponents on flat pitches, barely survived a new-look Indian team at home few months earlier. And yes, the World Test Championship (WTC) final may elude them once again and two teams will come to England in 2027 to fight for the mace while Stokes' men content themselves with moral wins.