🏏 Stokes: Best Game But Ashes Dream Ends

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Key Takeaways

1📊 England winless 16/18 Aussie Tests since 2013/14
2🏆 Australia retains Ashes 3-0 in 11 days
3💡 Adelaide 'best game' but no series lead gained
4🔮 MCG/SCG: Pride battle for Stokes' men
5💬 Stokes: 'Very disappointing... hell to play for'

"England showed some fight on Day 5 at the Adelaide Oval but the win continued to elude them as they went down by 82 runs"

Ben Stokes labeled Adelaide England's 'best game' on tour, yet an 82-run loss sealed Australia's Ashes retention at 3-0, crushing England's urn dreams in just 11 Test days. Stokes' vision of joining elite Aussie-winning captains faded, with England winless in 16 of 18 recent Aussie Tests since 2013/14 whitewash. Despite disappointment, he eyes pride in Melbourne, Sydney. Brutal end underscores Bazball limits Down Under.[cmjfqivzl00010d8vkedh49h6][cmjeb4f140002lq8vrra0n0kx]

Stokes' captaincy transformed England—series wins in NZ, India—but Australia exposed frailties: no 400+ totals, batting avg 24. Post-2022 highs, this mirrors Root's 2021/22 struggles. Crawley's 85 hinted fight, but 82-run defeat after Adelaide chase failure cements dire record. Two Tests remain for salvage.[cmjfqivzl00010d8vkedh49h6][cmjeb4f140002lq8vrra0n0kx]

Tactical Review of Series Collapse

England's 3.79 rpo lagged Australia's 4.34; Stokes faced dismissals in 90% innings under 250. Adelaide 'best effort' yielded no lead, vs Aus's three innings 350+. Echoes 2013/14 5-0 whitewash stats (avg 23). Bazball abandonment (189-ball 85s) signals quality gap, not just aggression fail.[cmjfqivzl00010d8vkedh49h6][cmjeb4f140002lq8vrra0n0kx]

Legacy Hit and Rebuild Call

Australia clinches Ashes early, WTC boost; Stokes' record now tainted by Oz woes, questioning Bazball universality. 16/18 losses demands selection overhaul, like post-2006/07 resets. Broader: ECB eyes McCullum tweaks for 2027/28 redemption.[cmjfqivzl00010d8vkedh49h6][cmjeb4f140002lq8vrra0n0kx]