{"id":646278,"date":"2025-12-21T12:57:34","date_gmt":"2025-12-21T12:57:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/646278\/"},"modified":"2025-12-21T12:57:34","modified_gmt":"2025-12-21T12:57:34","slug":"ben-stokes-makes-england-captaincy-decision-after-brutal-ashes-defeat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/646278\/","title":{"rendered":"Ben Stokes makes England captaincy decision after brutal Ashes defeat"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>England captain Ben Stokes addressed the media after Australia secured victory in Adelaide to wrap up victory in their home Ashes series with two tests to spare<\/p>\n<p>12:46, 21 Dec 2025Updated 12:48, 21 Dec 2025<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0_Australia-v-England-NRMA-Insurance-Ashes-Series-2025-Third-Test-Day-Five-Adelaide-Oval.jpg\" alt=\"Ben Stokes speaking after England's defeat in the third Ashes test\" loading=\"eager\"  \/>Ben Stokes speaking after England&#8217;s defeat in the third Ashes test(Image: PA)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">England cricket captain <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/ben-stokes\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Ben StokesLink opens in a new tab.\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Ben Stokes<\/a> has no plans to relinquish his role despite <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/the-ashes\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"AshesLink opens in a new tab.\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Ashes<\/a> disappointment in <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/Australia\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"AustraliaLink opens in a new tab.\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Australia<\/a>. England failed to complete a miraculous comeback in the third test in Adelaide, with <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/sport\/cricket\/gallery\/ashes-england-australia-cricket-bazball-36436001\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"an 82-run defeat handing the series to the AussiesLink opens in a new tab.\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">an 82-run defeat handing the series to the Aussies<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The tourists put up a fight in their second innings, with Jamie Smith hitting 60 during a 91-run seventh-wicket partnership. The damage had mostly been done in the first innings, though, and now the final two tests will see England play for nothing but pride after falling 3-0 behind in the series.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Stokes was asked about his future as captain after the latest loss, but provided a simple &#8220;nope&#8221; when asked if he would be considering his position. He added that he &#8220;absolutely&#8221; still has the energy to continue in the role.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;It moves over into what else we have in front of us,&#8221; said the skipper, who recognised the failure to win in Australia was &#8220;very disappointing&#8221; for the England camp. &#8220;We still have two games left in the series and a hell of a lot to play for, as individuals and a team.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;Walking out there and playing for England is a good enough thing in itself. We&#8217;re not going to turn around and kick the stumps over because we have so much more to play for in the series.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>READ MORE: <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/sport\/cricket\/craig-mcdermott-australia-ashes-bankruptcy-36430925\" data-tmdatatrack=\"read-more\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36430925\" data-tmdatatrack-source=\"editorial\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ashes hero was declared bankrupt after owing \u00a320m before making Australia comeback<\/a>READ MORE: <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/sport\/cricket\/england-cricket-the-ashes-australia-36426570\" data-tmdatatrack=\"read-more\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36426570\" data-tmdatatrack-source=\"editorial\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ashes star left England behind to run fish and chip shop and faced angry customer<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">England opener Zak Crawley shared Stokes&#8217; feelings about the failure to meet the pre-series goal. \u201cWe came here to win the Ashes,&#8221; he told Test Match Special.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;We are probably up against it. It is flat. Disappointed we have not performed how we want to. Fair play to Australia, they have been quality throughout.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;It hasn\u2019t surprised me. I know how good they are in their own country. They have great players all over the place. They\u2019re a top side, and we had to be at our best to get something.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0_Australia-v-England-202526-Ashes-Series-Third-Test-Day-5.jpg\" alt=\"Australia players celebrate taking the final wicket against England in Adelaide\" loading=\"lazy\"  \/>Australia players celebrate taking the final wicket against England in Adelaide(Image: Cricket Australia via Getty Imag)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">A first innings century from Alex Carey set Australia on their way in Adelaide, but not without controversy. The wicketkeeper ought to have been dismissed before reaching his century, only for <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/sport\/cricket\/england-ashes-alex-carey-snicko-36414459\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"a Snicko error to earn him a reprieveLink opens in a new tab.\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">a Snicko error to earn him a reprieve<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The fourth Ashes test will get up and running on <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/sport\/boxing\/\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Boxing<\/a> Day in Melbourne, with Australia still chasing a clean sweep. After the trip to the MCG, the series will conclude in Sydney in early January.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;So far so good, but personally I don&#8217;t like to look too far ahead, maybe reflect, jump in the pool tonight, get home to the kids and then come back tomorrow and really look forward to it,&#8221; Carey told TNT Sports after the series victory was confirmed. &#8220;The boys are bowling really great areas, we know it&#8217;ll be hard work again.&#8221;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"England captain Ben Stokes addressed the media after Australia secured victory in Adelaide to wrap up victory in&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":646279,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5008],"tags":[43331,748,393,7618,4884,116343,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-646278","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-england","8":"tag-ben-stokes","9":"tag-britain","10":"tag-england","11":"tag-england-cricket-team","12":"tag-great-britain","13":"tag-the-ashes","14":"tag-uk","15":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115757676284507154","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/646278","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=646278"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/646278\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/646279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=646278"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=646278"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=646278"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}