Test Match Special - The Ashes: England's belated resistance ends as Australia retain the Ashes.

Episode Date: December 21, 2025

England showed plenty of fight but Australia won the 3rd Test by 82 runs to retain the Ashes with two games to spare, We hear from England coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes as well as Australia skipper Pat Cummins, Player of the match Alex Carey plus Mitchell Starc. Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head. There's also analysis by Jonathan Agnew, Simon Mann, Glenn McGrath, Phil Tufnell and Andy Zaltzman.

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Boland coming in and bowling to tongue. It's edge, caught. And Australia retain the ashes. And they're in a group there, hugging each other and celebrating. Two-day game, four-day game. At least this one has gone comfortably into a fifth. But it's still a handsome victory for Australia by 82 runs. So at 2.11 on the fifth day of this third test match, Australia have retained the ashes. They've beaten England by 82 runs, England resisting, 352 all out.

Actually, marginally outscoring Australia in the second innings of the match. Australia making 3-4-9, but it was that first innings really. It did so much damage to England, 286 all out. They gave up that first inning's lead of 85 and Australia gradually worked their way through the batting. Resistance from England today. Smith making 60 hit four consecutive boundaries before he tried to take Stark down again. Was it four? And hit it out towards mid on and Cummins took the catch.

Jack's out for 47, Knicking to Labershane slip. Cast was 39 not out. Archer cut to Weatherald at deep backward point of Stark for three and tongue. man out, caught at slip off Boland for one, England resisting for 102.5 overs, but it was not quite enough. Yes, indeed. Sorry, it was tough. I thought it was at least three. Yeah, it was four consecutive boundaries he hit. So he hit two in one over, then he lost the strike, and then Jack's got a single, back on strike, hit two more, and then he went for the big shot again. So four consecutive boundaries before he hold out. It's that, I said, it was a fine innings. He played really well. but it's kind of that dismissal it was replicated over the series wasn't it really

and that's one of the reasons it's one of them it's not the only reason it's one of the reasons why England become undone in this series absolutely it reminds me I was batting with John Embry my fellow spin twin I don't know we played against Hampshire or something

and their spinner was on and he'd go and I'd hit a couple of fours somehow like that and he's come up to me and just gone right okay just block it doesn't matter and I was going no no no I want to keep going, I want to keep going. No, no. You can't hit every ball for four, even if

you go in and the blood's up and you've been told to go and, you know, sometimes, even if it was in the slot, you should sort of just pat it back, recalibrate and go again. So, yeah, that was disappointed, but I'm glad he got some runs. You know, that will help him, I think, in the next couple of test matches, because you could just see it in his body language with his keeping as well

that he was just feeling it a little bit, so he'll be delighted with that, and there's been some positives, haven't there been positives from this test match I thought the way we bowled yesterday yesterday morning and got those what was it six for six for 38 so

so you take that down to Melbourne good resistance and good fight good knock by Crawley who sort of seems to have got stuck in a bit instead of just wafting around outside off stump so positives but obviously very disappointing as well I mean one of the really interesting aspects this game

is that England have played in a different way haven't they? It's been absolutely clear. We've not, okay, the old aggressive shot, Smith eventually went back into old mode, but he reined himself in. But England had played differently today. And in previous parts of the game as well, you think of

Stokes in the first innings, you know, five hours for his 80. And Jacks today, 137 balls for his 47 cast, battled away as well for 39. So they brought this sort of strategy into the series, but by the third test, they've kind of flipped it.

Well, they've had to, and just adapt and change the tempo a bit. I thought the way Zach Crawley played yesterday was good. Kept the good ones out, and then the odd ball that was there in his zone, he put away. So, yeah, England was about three and a half and over, which is a little bit unusual for them in the last sort of couple of years. But it showed that they've got fight left in them, and I'm looking forward to Melbourne. Yeah, I think also is there a question that perhaps they don't trust there, defensive technique enough

you know they almost think well hold on I don't know whether I've got that sort of game in me because I don't think I can just sort of like block block and wear people down so I may as well have a little bit of a dark well you can't just block block well no no but you know what I mean you know just sort of yeah you've got to sort of

you've got to have that foundation of well you've got to back yourself for a defence just find it back yourself to take them on yeah but yeah to keep the good ones out and build an innings yeah no absolutely so perhaps that might be a little something to perhaps think about work on your

starting point is being able to hang around and survive and then the shots will come. It's called positive defence. Yes. And I think we've seen in this test match actually, players who've given themselves some time have been able to flourish and you can then see the ball

as getting a bit tired and not necessarily frustrated because Australia they they've played lots of cricket where the Cuccoborough ball is being employed and the pitches are flat and they've had to be patient but it just shows you what you can achieve if you keep if you just keep on going and what they haven't been able to do is really just go the extra mile in this game no you've got to give yourself time as soon as you walk out there you're not sure how the

ball's coming on you know what the bounce what the carries like give yourself a chance to get used to that when when you do then you can start playing some more positive shots but to come out from ball one and try to to play and play shots Duckett, I think, is a great example. He does want to leave any ball, and I think it's brought him undone here. Yeah. I don't see, actually, I don't see that as positive. You know, I don't necessarily see, you know, whack in a way as a positive thing sometimes.

A positive thing is to get yourself in. That's the positive thing. And then to move through. To be there at the end of the session, then be at the next session. They're positives. Yeah, that's positive instead of like, oh, I scored a fantastic 40, and I was really positive. and oh but you got out you know that so it's a different way of looking at sort of how how to be positive in a game of cricket sometimes i'd bowl three or four five maidens on the trot that's positive you know just because i haven't sort of tried to pitch one leg and hit off so to speak and that's not too negative but you know things things to build on but we're sitting here again aren't we sort of kicking ourselves a bit because we just fancied that there might be an opportunity with this side and a few

sort of chinks in the Australian armour I don't think we'll win until we get missed us coming Stark lying all these boys retire and then we'll have another go I mean looking back it's 3-0 do you think England were right to have you know

or an England supporters were right to be positive about this series or was that really when you look back and you see what Australia what didn't have you weren't able to put on the field but still able to win and three and all that was actually really in hindsight. I know hindsight is a great word, but wishful thinking. Yeah, you've got to come to this too of being positive,

but I think the way England's, the way they've played and given a lot of entertainment to their fans, coming here, you've got to be positive. You've got to look forward to it. This is the ultimate for an England cricketer. This is ultimate for an Australian cricketer playing in Nash's. And to go to England as an Aussie, we love that, and vice versa. So, yeah.

Right, let's go to Jonathan. Thank you very much, Simonia, down here in the sunshine. I have Brendan McCullough with me, England's coach, of course. Well, I mean, how do you feel about that game? We're obviously disappointed to have lost the opportunity to win the ashes. But I thought today, well, the last couple of days has been much better. You know, I think it's amazing what can be achieved when you just play. times put so much pressure on yourself and there's so much you just end up thinking about

things other than just playing the game and I think the last couple of days we've just we've just got back to doing what we do which is just immersing ourselves in the moment and playing and we're much much better obviously disappointed to lose we've been outplayed in all three test matches by a formidable Australian performance batting bowling and fielding and I think you know the last couple of days is better for us but we're obviously standing here sitting three nil down Yeah. There seems to have been a more measured tempo, particularly about the batting in this match. Is that a conscience thing or is that just something that's happened? Look, it's not so much about tempo. It's been able to make good decisions and pressure moments.

And for us right from the get-go, it's never been about scoring rates. It's about making sure that you respect what's coming at you. You're present in the moment. You're assessing the conditions. You're identifying what the levels of risk are, but also what the opportunities are. And work out how you try and counter that and be able to apply pressure when you need to. absorbed Pritcher when you have to as well and I don't think we've quite got that balance right in the previous the previous encounters in the series and it was probably the last two days where we were able to do it with both bat and ball which sort of is a bit frustrating as well because you sit there and you go well if we had it if we had gotten onto that a bit

earlier we're able to find that a little bit earlier then we'd be a lot more competitive but you know I thought the boys were excellent today you know they showed some some great application and they bounced off each other and they were obviously trying to take the game as deep as what we possibly could and try and see if the pressure would come on Australia. We didn't quite get there, but I thought it was a fine achievement. It must be frustrating to sit and watch a much better performance like that coming a little bit too late.

Yeah, but it's not just the batting either, Agers. I think with the ball, we took six for 70 on the morning of the fourth day, and I thought our accuracy of the ball, the fields that we had, the intensity that we had and our precision with our left. and our lines and our plans was much more polished than what it had been over the previous couple of test matches and I thought our energy in the field was brilliant too and I thought across the board it was an improved performance it's just frustrating that it's coming at this time yeah Geoffrey archer got to mention him he had a terrific all-round game he's had a terrific

series to be honest I think he's bowled brilliantly for us he's batted well he's obviously he's been in some big moments as well and he stepped up he's a wonderful cricketer and you know we know how much playing for England means for him as well and you see that when he chases the ball to the boundary and puts his body through some stuff he's worked unbelievably hard over last couple of years turned down some significant opportunities around the world and short version cricket to commit to playing for England and test cricket and he's left it all out there and he's been immense for us yeah how do you plan ahead for these next two games I mean do you draw a line under what's happened and take a deep breath and go forward or is it a case of winning these two matches and trying

to get it three two that's definitely about winning these next two matches I think if we play like we did over the last two days, we give ourselves a much better opportunity of been able to salvage something out of the last two test matches. It's not easy coming down here. We appreciated that when we arrived. We came with high expectations, high hopes and ambitions, and we haven't lived up to it so far. But there's still two more opportunities.

And for us, we want to be able to show what we're capable of achieving down here in tough conditions against a very strong, formidable and precise Australian team. But that's what's in front of us. Obviously, this one's going to hurt. it's disappointing when you lose and I'm sure there'll be plenty of questions asked and rightfully so we haven't got everything right

I haven't got everything right as a coach either and I put my hand up for that and you accept that and you try and work out ways that you can try and I guess identify things which you need to make sure that you polish up on to give yourselves more chance

what in particular do you think you haven't got right as coach oh look I think I've been very strong about the conviction we've had in our preparation and you know obviously for us it was a matter of trying to try to replicate what we have done in previous series which have been successful for us away from home with our with our preparation maybe we didn't quite get that right and I'll acknowledge that and and there's no exact science but you know obviously we haven't won so therefore you point back to things you

could have done or might have done differently and so say if you're in that same situation next time would you make change and that are the conversations you've got to mull over in your own head and and obviously around the squad as well. So, you know, there's a couple of things like that. And obviously we haven't been as accurate or precise as what we need to with the ball. We haven't been able to score the volume of runs

and we've dropped a few catches as well. I think credit goes to Australia. They have been as precise the team as what I've seen in the last few years and they've just put us under immense pressure throughout. And we've only really had probably fleeting moments throughout the last three test matches where we feel as if we were on top

or in a position of strength. And even those were kind of ripped away from us. at critical junctures so you know fair play to Australia yeah I guess you're talking about preparation is that sort of pre-first test preparation you would do differently again yeah probably I mean not just that but also the five intense training days leading into Brisbane when we knew it was going to be hot and I think there's just a few things that you look at retrospectively and you've got to be careful because you need conviction and what your methods are but you're not too you're not too ignorant to admit that if you

haven't quite got something right and I'll put my hand up on that you know that's your job as coaches to try and you try and get performance on the field and then when you don't give performance you look back on some things which you might not have quite got right and you know I was confident that we had it right but but obviously we didn't because we haven't played as well as we should have good luck in Melbourne Brennan thank you for honesty you catch up with you there we go so that's Brendan McCullum talking to me down here we'll get Ben Stokes in a moment that I guess you can hear me up there some interesting points they're raised to

you'd agree yes definitely Jonathan And I mean, that's the first time, I think we've heard Brendan say the preparation wasn't right. I mean, it was more pointing, seemed towards the Gaba, but also pre-series as well. The other thing I thought was interesting as well, that word conviction he used, you know, that kind of the way England play. And obviously, we've seen something different in this test match from, haven't we? We haven't seen that sort of really ultra-attacking approach that perhaps undid them in Perth, which, you know, has set this all in train. Do that seem, how you read it, Jonathan? Yes, absolutely.

I thought that was, yeah, I didn't expect Brendan to be quite so honest. That's the wrong word. To put his hands up like that. I mean, I think part of what we've been used to in his last three years or so is the England management, and I include Ben Stokes in that as well, as kind of just saying we do our own thing. We don't care what you say. This is what we're going to do. I'll go back to the old timers comments.

and that sort of stuff, you know, that's generally been the way they've done it. But, no, he looked me in the eye there, and that was really quite a surprise that this regime, to call it that sort of word, has actually put its hands up and said we've got some things wrong, because we haven't heard that, have we? No, but, I mean, and now it is over. I think that was very honest, and, you know, I thought he spoke really well there. You know, you're not going to come out after Perth and go, oh my God, we got it wrong, you know what I mean?

Because you're still in the ashes. So you're going to have that wall around you and encourage you your convictions, and we've got it right. We just need to play a little bit better. The word that I think summed up Australia and England was precise. England haven't been precise enough. Shot selections, balls, bold, catches and everything.

So how you work on that, I'm afraid, is hard work. you know as well as mental stuff and preparation and what have you you've got to bowlers have got to get it in their legs batters have got a groove technique yeah but i think the last few days england have shown that they're they're good enough to compete and they can do it and i like what's coming out of the england camp now we saw a little bit of it in brisbane uh but just listening to um just listening to mccullum then just the the honesty rather than coming oh everything's great it's great it's everything, you know, exactly where we want to be. And it's just like, you know, we all can see that's not 100% true.

Well, what he said there, all you want is just some, you know, honesty might be a little bit harsh, but just what's happening, just how it is, say how it is. Don't try to sugarcoat it, just to deliver it. And, yeah, that's coming out. And so I'm, I think England team are slowly becoming to actually a very good place. and the next two games, I think they're going to really compete. Yeah, but I mean, I can understand that.

You know, you're coming over here. You feel confident and everything. You don't want to start saying, you know, we haven't got anything right or anything, even if you lose the odd game or two. You know, you want to be backing your players. You want to be no, but it's so I can understand that. But, you know, Ashes have gone and he's come out and he said,

right, okay, you know, might have got a few things wrong. We need to look at it. We need to move forward. We need to improve. I suppose England's apportion will say, no there's a bit of hindsight here of course because I think there are a lot of people who were reasonably confident England

could compete down here is England's approach right at the start of the series? Was it going to work against a discipline? Ben Sto is coming now in Australia. Okay let's hear from you Jonathan go ahead. Hi Ben yeah nice to see

well how do you feel after that it's a bit frustrating I would imagine that was a much improved performance yeah it's full of mixed emotions obviously you know what we came here to do we can no longer do but yeah and then you sort of look at what we managed to do throughout the five days and in terms of especially on the back of last week you know to take it as sort of doesn't seem like it's close but you know there were

moments there where I thought we're going to pull off another heist that we've done on quite a few times but again I think it's just it just goes back to the our execution not being good enough for long enough. And yeah, when you come up against a team like Australia in their conditions who just execute over and over and over again, you know, you can look back on the first three games and know that's sort of where definitely where we've not been good enough. But this week, yeah, although we've on the end of the result that we didn't want, I honestly can take a lot out of what we've got to do over the next two games in terms of what I was asking for last week, the character, the fight, the standing up to whatever Australia

throws at us at whatever moment it may be. We were starting off the day when we get put into bowl, I think bowling them out for under par total, but then we just weren't able to respond in the way that we wanted to do with the battle. We knew that we had a great opportunity to go and put a huge amount of runs on the board and put Australia on the back foot, but we just weren't able to do that but we were able to fight ourselves back into the game and restrict that deficit to you know even 80 and then again yesterday morning coming out taking six for 40 you know that doesn't happen by chance or by fluke that happens by you know always staying in the game and not letting a drift and again with the bat you know three wickets last night were obviously disappointing but coming

out here today and watching will and jamie apply themselves in the way that they did and even low down the order of Briden, you know, just constantly just wanting to, you know, be there in the moment and, you know, fight for the group and fight for the team to fight for himself. That's, that's something I can take a lot of pride out of this as the captain of this team and, you know, we've still got so much to play for in these remaining two games. You know, we've got our own pride to play for. We've got the badge to play for. People are coming out over Christmas, New Year, whatever, so we ain't going to, you know, just mill through these last two games. We know that We've got a hell of a lot still to play for

and we'll still be given absolutely everything like we have done throughout the rest of this tour. Were you pleased with the response that you got? I mean, our last chat after Brisbane was that you're going to go there. He had lots of things to say, meetings and so on. Are you pleased with how that has turned out here? Yeah, definitely. It's in, you know, definitely it's in glimpses of, you know,

taking responsibility in the moment when you've got that opportunity to go out there and, you know, it's your time and it's your moment for the team. and if we can look to build on that and understand that you know moments in the game you know require a certain style of play and we've seen how when we were building partnerships how easy it was

to be able to score freely or whatever it may be and turning up and yeah just showing as much fight as you possibly can you know and yeah we've had some very good moments but also you know on reflection on this game you just you've got to execute as often as you're possibly can and when you're slightly off you pay for it out here and that's something that I think has just been a common theme throughout the series so far but yeah a lot of good to take out of a game

but it's obviously your emotions are obviously a little bit deflated it's yeah it's hard to have to see that it did seem from way up there miles away as if there's a bit more of a measured approach to the way particularly the batting actually I think of Zach Crawley's innings for a start I mean one of the criticisms has been that it's been sort of a one pace approach over this last couple of years or so. Was that something that's conscious or is that just simply something that he decided to do on the day?

No, I think, again, it's understanding the moment of where the game is at and how you feel like you need to apply yourself as an individual in that moment. And, you know, we've seen Zach who I thought just played exceptionally well. And, you know, even Jamie and Will last night having to go out and deal with that last half an hour

of, you could see that it was That was the most important thing that was acquired there for the team was to get through that night, start again tomorrow because that's when you win the game. You don't win that game in the last half an hour. And they battled hard through that. They battle hard again this morning. And then when the moment came for them to feel like they were going to put the pressure

back onto Australia, it just didn't work out, you know. And that's the game of cricket, you know. It's, you know, fine margins of sport. You've had your moments, haven't you? That's the frustrating thing. And that's, again, we have had our moments in this game here. and we were so, so close this game. But, yeah, it feels like three games

have been so, so, so close, and you can't be so, so so close so consistently against a team like Australia. But, yeah, as I said before, we've got so much more to play for. And, yeah, we'll be flying into these next two games. Good. Before seeing it.

Thank you, Ben. Thanks for talking to. Cheers. Right, there we go. There's Ben Stokes. Again, I think chatting with, you know, a refreshing openness there about the frustrations having been so close but yet so far and that business we talked about yesterday

about the door would be open sometimes but then Australia would just slam it shut again and that's really been the case I think during this series but definitely interesting there again there was when you interview Stokes a lot you kind of throw those lines out there and you wonder what the response will be I thought the way that he actually praised Crawley's approach was quite significant as well because that was I thought an acceptance that actually there was a more measured approach about that which has not always been the cases we know

in these last three years yeah and you think back to Perth I mean you do wonder it's inevitable that you wonder if England applied this approach that they've shown in this test match to Perth how things might have been different win the game

get over the line and I don't know whether that's by approach well it is a by about by approach but it's also just recognising situations 100 for lead you know I can understand it a little bit I mean I was like that at Perth you know it's like a champagne bottle opening wasn't it it just like wow everything was just sort of like flying along you know and it just needed just needed a cool calm head did it need this approach that we've seen in this game absolutely absolutely it did okay different pitch and bounds afternoon session and the second day in Perth required this sort of approach

it, nail it down. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, so it's good sort of hearing this come out of the England camp, so it's about adapting to the conditions, but also learning. You're allowed to say, yep, we've learned from the first test, we've learned from the second test, we're looking to put it in a place here. And then I think that gets your message across to the media, to the fans a lot more.

So I think they've learned, finally learned, sort of midway through this test, a couple of things, put things into place, executed better, and the result the last two days, they probably, you know, session on session, probably played better than Australia. In the last two days, it was just the first three days that got away from it. So, so close, John at Stokesy was saying, we felt we were so close. Is that realistic? I mean, but I feel it was. You know, two days in Perth lost by so-so-so-so-so-and-brisbon, you know, beat and beaten.

here okay we've taken it five days you know I've watched a lot of cricket and I do I don't think we were a million miles away that's the frustration well there were three moments in the game in the in the series so far wouldn't they a hundred ahead at lunch on that second day in Perth yeah and then there were all the drop catches we could still come back in there in Brisbane yeah put England so far behind I mean this game was probably lost in the first innings was there England's first inings and look fair play to Australia in in that first innings, they bowled really well. It's 40 degrees and they bowled really well.

Well, the state of the game on day four, if Australia came out and batted and, you know, I thought they were going to get another 200 comfortably, but they got knocked over. England sort of knocked them over and all of a sudden chasing 435 rather than 535, which everyone thought it was going to be. So, yeah,

it's, like I said, the first few days got away from. Yeah, also another thing that you said, they're not good enough for long enough, you know, and that's with the ball. and you take a leaf out of Australia's book all day long in that 40 degree. You know, that was good enough for long enough.

And the same with the bat. I think that some people think that not good enough for long enough means, oh, well, it wasn't whacking. We weren't whacking it for long enough. No, good enough just to hang around and then apply pressure in the natural sort of way. So, yeah, there have been some really good points and really highlights as well, but not good enough for long enough.

Jonathan, I think one of the interesting things, there'll be people listening to this and saying, well, why couldn't they work it out earlier? I'm just going to speak to Manus Labashet, I think, actually. Simon, I think. He's just wandering over, I think I'm going to. He's taking his shoes off, which I don't think anyone's done.

Oh, I see. He's handed them to a small boy there. Manus, come and have five seconds. That'll be great. Is he going to be delighted to pick up those smelly shoes, do you think? It's a very nice gift. I'm Jonathan Ague. We have met before. Yeah, so that's a nice gesture,

but I guess you're feeling charitable and happy about this. That's it. I mean, you can't feel any other way in the position we're in now. After that, you know, a little bit of nerves there with some really good batting from Jamie Smith and Will Jacks there. And we held firm, you know, as we have been all serious, just we're patient. And, you know, it's a great feeling to be where we are. Yeah.

What's remarkable from an England perspective is actually we haven't played your first team yet? uh yeah look what i will say is it just shows one the depth that we have but also you know the versatility and the conditions that we're playing in you know to play michael nesser at the gabber because it suited those surfaces we didn't feel like Nathan would have played us big of a part and then for nathan to come here and then straight away have impact in his first over i think it's just a credit to the selectors and and andrew mcdonald and pat and steve for what they've created and you know that adaptability and being able to just you know whatever the team needs being able to do that you're catching wow breathtaking yeah I mean I

actually haven't feel it had slipped that much I feel it a little bit first slip I usually run around and use some of the athleticism I've got to to try and have a bit of impact but you know with Steve not being there this week and you know stepping in in that position it was an awesome you know it's awesome to you know be able to do what I did I could ask you were you expecting this to be hard And I'm going back to Perth and that, you know, that second lunchtime, lead of 100, nine wickets left. Did you think this Ashes contest would be tougher?

I just think the Ashes is, you know, something that I've learned over time. It's just about moments. It's about moments and winning moments, you know, you look back at the series. You know, how much different would that series look if England consolidated that lead they had, dominated, we had to chase 350, 300 in that. first game you know what what does that do to to their batter's confidence what does that do to everything and and and the series can look so much different so i don't i don't you know i didn't feel like it was easy at any stage you know i felt like you know at times joffar archibald

beautifully you know they they built pressure um but at the end of the day you know to be three nil up you know is an amazing amazing feeling um but yeah i think it could look it could look so much differently for the few key moments that we took. That's the last one. I guess you're looking at 5-0 again, are you, Martinus? Honestly, I'm just looking at celebrating tonight and, you know, really enjoying it. You know, what we've achieved is something really special. And then it'll be, you know, let's get the 4-0 first.

And then we'll think about each game as it comes and making sure, once again, that we just make sure we win those big moments. Enjoy Christmas. Thanks for talking to us. Thank you very much. There we go. Barnus Labashane, without his boots, which is now the property. of some very happy young man. In fact, he's holding them there.

They've been out in the boiling sun for a while, but now Marnas is going to sign them as well. That's a nice gesture. So there we are. A bit of a bonus to chat from Marnas Labashane as well. Yeah, absolutely. So Marnis is not thinking about 5-0, but I'm sure Glenn is thinking about 5-0.

But I go back to that question, Jonathan. I was asking before Marnis Labers-Shane came over. And there'll be a lot of people listening to this and saying, how come it took them until the third test to work it out because there was a feeling it was there last summer in England this idea of basball with brains

and actually in that first test match in Perth it was 100 miles now whether that was the adrenaline of the first test and the pitch the crowd the whole occasion I don't know whether it sort of overtook the England team but if they why were they not able to

and do you think that you know that's the key actually is that one of the problems from them they weren't able to adapt early enough in the series to the demands of of playing an Ashes series. I think that's absolutely true, Simon. I mean, I said half jokingly

after Brisbane, well they'll be ready to go in Adelaide because they've had two games now. And I was kind of only semi-joking because, as we've heard now from Brendan McCullum, they should have, they accept they should have played more matches beforehand. And it seems as if those first two tests were a kind of, I mean, there weren't a warm-up, but they were a warm-up.

They were the sort of preparation that they had lacked. And so I'm not particularly surprised that they've come here and actually played a really good game of cricket or largely a good game of cricket they've lost some key moments where they've lost the game but they were just

they just seemed more prepared for this match but there still hasn't been quite the full sort of rowback about Basball as such I think that Brendan kind of redefined it there a bit

in that chat just now I mean if you compare their comments about their approach when they first took over to how that sounded, I think there's a significant difference, isn't there? I was just a bit surprised to hear that Zach Crawley kind of denied that in his press conference last night when he clearly played in a completely different way

and it suited him, frankly, it suited him. He played beautifully, much more better shot selection and so on and so I mean I don't think it's any harm in them saying look, we're learning how to play at the moment, we're getting this right I think that's more, that's what McCallum said. And Ben Stokes, he also said, and he knows all those supporters are coming out for the Melbourne-Sidney test matches,

and he said, okay, we've lost the series, but, you know, we've got to try our damnedest in the last two matches. What do you think about the sort of construction of the England team for those two matches, certainly for Melbourne on Boxing Day? Are we looking at two, three changes? Do they need to rotate the bowlers? Do they really actually have to seriously make a change in the batting?

Simply because Olli Pope just doesn't look on it at the moment and they just kind of have to say, well, Jacob Bethel, you're on the next cab. You're the only one we've got. We'll have to give you a go. Yeah, that's going to be a really big call, isn't it? Do you put somebody in there who's had precious little cricket has got precious little experience in first class cricket,

let alone test cricket? And I mean, the one match that he played at the Oval last year, he looked all over the place. He's still trying to work his game out, I think, but it's a decision. Do you put him out there in front of 100,000 people and he would play in Sydney as well, of course, a massive event,

the New Year's test match and so on. I mean, can he cope with that? I think that's the question. With someone as young as he is and with such little experience and such little practice behind him here, is it fair to put him into that? Now, they know him much better than we do,

and if they think, well, yep, he can handle that. then I think they'll probably do it. But if there's any doubt that actually this could be a damaging experience for him and that if it goes wrong, what does that do to his confidence and his career, then I think they've got us tread very carefully. I mean, one option, as we heard at lunch, is to put Joe Root to three, move Brooke up to four, and you can have Bethel at five or six. That'll be a much kinder introduction to that sort of cauldron

than shoving him in at number three, because as we've said throughout, I mean, Olly Pope has been out there batting in the first over for much of this series. That would be tough on a 21-year-old who's had such little first-class experience as Bethel has. But, hey, maybe they think he can handle it. I mean, they made him captain of the T20 team in Ireland, didn't they again, on the basis of nothing, really,

apart from a bit of a hunch? So we just had to wait and see on that. But I think that's the one change batting-wise that they will seriously consider. And likewise, they think that cast maybe needs a rest. He gives it everything, doesn't he? and he batted nicely today but his jobs with the ball

Atkinson's had 10 days with his feet up now it may be that they look at swapping that around I think you know Tong had a good game but I think that those two changes for maybe what they're looking at

the ashes have been lost we thought they were going to be lost but they have now have been lost what about the future of Brendan McCullum as coach well if I'm I thought there part of the sort of the clearing of the decks and saying, I've made mistakes,

might be a way of softening what happens at the end of the series. You know, is he speaking to his employers there to an extent and he's not going to dig his heels in and say, I'm right, I'm right. In which case, you know, if just say Brendan McCullum were to be interviewed, which you will be when he gets back, but there were a question about whether or not

they moved him on, he's kind of set out I think his, like his plan for the future, we will reassess, when we come here in four years' time, he said, was one comment, you know, we will reassess how we do it. Well, that's the sort of thing that you'd probably say to your employer in January when he'd been called in to his office to find out whether they still want to give you the job or not, isn't it? So I thought part of what he said might have been for those years as well as for those of us who have been talking about this for now for a couple of months. and what does it mean for the others in the hierarchy you know Rob Key and also Ben Stokes the captain well it's interesting at lunch again wasn't it talking to some of our colleagues in the press box

has thought of it possibly being a bit of a domino and that the three did come in together didn't they they I mean key appointed Stokes key appointed McCullum and so therefore they will feel some loyalty to him I suppose but you would think that is Rob Key's job that would be in the cross-hand You know, you come out and lose a series like this

an admission that mistakes have been made with a preparation which we've been saying for ages. It's not hindsight, that as everybody listening knows. We've been talking about this for ages. In fact, we talked about it from the very first day that this schedule was announced in the middle of the summer. It's been a topic of conversation. You're listening to the TMS podcast from BBC Radio 5 Live.

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or wherever you get your podcasts. Okay, look, there's two sides to every story. There's the gloom, the introspection, the speculation, as far as England, the concern. But there's also the joy of winning. So let's hear now from Australia's Ashes winning captain, Pat Cummins, who's been giving his reaction to Ishigua. It feels pretty awesome.

Yeah, amazing. You know, series been thinking about for a long time. Yeah, it wasn't easy today, but we got it done and, yeah, pretty excited change room in there. Yeah, I mean, you really raced to fitness yourself to get yourself back playing in this test match. What did it take for you to get back? A fair bit of patience initially. And then, you know, the last kind of two months been a bit of a grind. Just give themselves every chance.

But, yeah, it's all worth it when you get days like this, pack crowd and retaining the ashes. And it feels like patience has been the word for you. Anytime England brought a partnership together, you think about Joe Root, Zach Crawley yesterday. You came on, got the breakthrough today when England were getting closer to that target. It felt like there was a lot of calm out there. Was that the key for you when it came to taking those final wickets?

I think that's when we're at our best, this cricket team. You can't really rush things here in Australia. I think you kind of will it to happen, but it doesn't really work that way. So it's a good old-fashioned grind a lot of the time. And, yeah, I love the toil from all the guys today. And, yeah, got a little bit closer than I would like, but pretty happy. I know you weren't part of the first two test matches,

but just how much strategy did go into this series with England coming over? Yeah, a fair bit. You know, I think first of all, you need more than just 11 players in an Asher series, five tests and even three tests in. We've shown that. We've used 14 or 15 players. So, you know, obviously Steve was great. But, you know, I think it's always.

always focusing on what we do really well as bowlers, not trying to get too carried away with the opposition, and maybe throughout a couple of different fielders, but most of the time we're focused on what we do well. And you've been thrown a couple of different kind of situations throughout this series, and the adaptability has been really important for your guys. I spoke to Mitch about experience and how important that is.

Has that come into play? For example, Travis Head going to the top of the order, is when Coadja having to come in at the last second no blade line in the last inning's here. I think that's one of the things the most proud about this group. You know, nothing ever really happens perfectly. There's always something that gets thrown up.

Over the last years, this group's has shown a, you know, you just kind of crack on. You know, even I miss the first couple of games. Steve's stepped right in. It was smooth, you know, seamless. And there's always things that crop up. Nate Lyon, you know, doing his hemmy with a couple hours left today.

But the boys just go, okay, that's happened. Let's crack on what's next. And I think that's one of our, you know, the big reasons why we've had our success over the last couple of years. We heard Ben Stokes talk about there, the relentlessness. You just keep coming, not just with the ball and the bat, but the fielding, exceptional.

Miles Labashane. Yeah, incredible. I think Stephen he might have a fight on who gets second slip back next week. And this tough pitch here in Adelaide, it wasn't too much on offer. 20 wickets was always going to be pretty tough. And, yeah, Maris manufactured a couple more for us with some of that fielding. And a lot of South Australians here to witness an Ashes series win. but a couple of South Australians

perform me incredibly well. That's right. You know, Travis Head and Alex Carey. I don't know where both their satches are going to go soon, but they deserve it. Yeah, it's such a wonderful place to play test cricket. Packed crowds, all five days. So many people travel in the state for this one test match each year.

And, yeah, seeing two homegrown heroes. It was awesome. Are we going to see you for the rest of the series, or is it just coming in for the win here and then have a little break to rest up that back? Yeah, take the credit here. We'll see. Yeah, we'll see how I'll pull up over the next day or two

and we'll make a decision, but savour this one for now. Okay, well done once again, Pat. Great to see you back playing, contributing with the ball with the captaincy. I'm sure Steve Smith would have been devastated to miss out here. But enjoy your Christmas and we'll see you in Melbourne. Thanks, Eisha. You too. Pat Cummins, speaking to Isha Goose.

So Pat Cummins, not certain to play in the Melbourne test match. He's just come back from back in. into this game is a pretty quick turnaround and actually quite a lot of work. It was quite a tough game to come back into Glenn, wasn't it? A full five days, hot at times and a pretty flat pitch. Yeah, yeah, I thought he was

impressive. The way he came back, he hasn't bowled a lot in games, or he hasn't bowled in games for a long time. To bowl the way he did from ball one was exceptional. Yeah, he's left the door open a little bit to, you know, kind of speculating of what's going to happen. So, yeah,

Nathan Lyon's I think going to struggle so whether you want another one of your top bowlers out and so yeah but I like what he said they just you know they're going out there they executed well and when you're bowling like that you just have to keep hanging in there

you know it's 11 against two all it takes is one ball just don't get frustrated and you know the Australians did well today too I know you always predict 5-0 because you can't countenance Australia going into a test match and losing but I mean realistically

at the start of the series When you looked at the two sides, did you think that Australia would be 3-0 up after 3? Yeah, I can't help myself, so I'm never going to say anything else, am I? So, yeah, I guess when you look at it, especially the way that first day went, and then up until lunch, you thought, you know, England was right on top here. So I thought the first game, England could have quite easily set themselves up and gone on to win that game. It took, you know, what happened after lunch,

then an exceptional batting performance from Travis Head. in Brisbane, I think Australia were too strong. England showed that they hadn't played a lot of day-night cricket, and I think that really was a big difference between the two. But here they've bounced back after the first half of this test match where I think they're outplayed. They executed pretty poorly with the ball in the first innings, but they showed in the second that they can do it.

So I guess it's always, you know, I talk it up, and I said I hoped every test was going to be close, go right down the wire with Australia just getting across the line in each test. And in that respect, if that was how it was, both teams are very similar. But if Australia just got it, I can still have my 5-0. So it's just one of those things. And 3-0, I think, is a very true result of where this series has been today. The next two tests now, you know, you're going to see what England has learned,

how they can adapt if they continue. to, if they, how long they can sustain it for. And yeah, these next two test matches, if they turn around play well and take over two wins, what's going to happen with you know, McCollum, you know, the management, the players, everything else.

So there's still a lot riding on the line for England for the rest of this series. Yeah, to be decided on all those matters. Just, just one final thing. I mean, how good is this Australian side? I mean, is it actually the situation where you know, there's never a poor

Australian side. They were always going to be competitive, especially in their own country. You can say, oh, this team is not as strong as the ones in the past, but actually, come here, all Australians seem are pretty strong here. Oh, without a doubt, and you hear Stuart Broad saying the weakest Australian team since

they won here in, you know, what was it, 2010? So it's, yeah, you're never going to get an easy Australian team, I think. There was moments back before that, where they were a bit of a rabble, but, you know, you've got you know you look you would have thought you had

Pat Cummins Mitchell staff Josh Hazard Nathan Lyne you would have thought you had your four front-up bowler front-line bowlers for these three matches that hasn't happened you know Steve Smith's not wasn't there so and they brought Michael Nisa and

you know Scotty Bowling in and dog it in all played an important part so they showed that they might be you know have the stats that you know a lot of the big boys have but they can come in play their part, they're adaptable and, yeah, like

I think Pat Cumman said, it's not just 11 playing. They've used like 14 or 15, it's the squad of players that are going to get you through and yeah, we'll see how England bounces back. We will indeed. One of the stars for Australia in the series, and certainly

in this match was Alex Kerry. He was named a player of the match and he's been speaking to Isha Goua and he said to Isha that retaining the which is a magnificent accomplishment. Yeah, it certainly is. I guess we knew what was on the line coming into this match

and I thought the boys, yeah, stayed really present and played what was in front of us. And we know England are such a good cricket team and we're going to be challenged. And again, right to the end today, it was a real grind. But, yeah, for the boys to all chip in throughout the series so far, it's been a lot of fun. And this Adelaide crowd throughout the last five days

has just been something special. Well, they certainly enjoyed your knock as well. The century, the 50, and partnership with Travis Head as well. I can see you're getting quite emotional there. But look, it must mean so much to be able to contribute in the way that you have. And, you know, a special moment to get that time. Yeah, absolutely. As you mentioned, Travis, again, you know, something special here,

four tests hundreds at the same venue. I know how good he is and he's showing the world. You know, he's one of the best players. But, yeah, I think, you know, to have family and friends, to be able to contribute to Australia's victories is always something I'm trying to do and to do it here in Adelaide this week was pretty amazing.

You're always going to talk about everyone else but that century, what was the key for you on this surface? Yeah, I guess I'm lucky to play a lot of Sheffield Shield cricket here and I guess it's a familiar surface. I guess it's a really good bowling attack we're definitely challenged throughout the day and to be able to, I guess, put a partnership with Usman Kawaja who came back into this group

and played really well at late notice was fantastic. Again, not surprising from such a great player. Yeah, I guess patience and trying to get through certain spells of really good bowling and then trying to pick up boundaries when the opportunities were there. It was a poignant moment as well and your dad would be so proud of you in what you've achieved. I guess that's, you know, as a young lad to be able to dare to dream to play sport at the highest level. I know it wasn't your first choice, but you're still contributing. quite a lot for Australia.

Yeah, a very special moment. I guess having the family, immediate family here, you know, to score 100 and to look up to the heavens was, yeah, something very special. And you're keeping, for all the kids watching out there, what is the key for you to be able to put out the performances that you have throughout this series? I guess, you know, keep to a really good bowling attack who gives you lots of opportunities, that's one. They've been unbelievable and, you know, I've been like,

lucky enough to come up to the stumps and keep to Basra and Nessa last week. And, you know, they're beating the bat and bowling fantastic. Nathan Lyon was, and again, fingers crossed, he's okay. But he was really, really special yesterday, late in the day. Yeah, it's been a lot of fun. And this bowling attack is, yeah, really, really good. Well, well done once again, Alex. And all the best in the remaining matches.

Thank you. Cheers. Thanks, everyone. That's Aisha with Alex Carey, the player of the match, making a hundred and seventy-two and also keeping really well as well. Do you want to hear some more celebrating Australians? Okay, here's Mitchell Stark with Isha as well. Made it's work for it.

A bit of a flat wicket and they played pretty well. But I think they're the ones that sort of you cherish a bit more when you have to work a bit harder, isn't it? So yeah, another rushes win. It's been a great atmosphere all week, all series so far. And can't fold anyone today. It was awesome. How important was your effort with the second new ball?

here, obviously, 126 to win after lunch. Yeah, we couldn't do as much as we probably thought it would do with the newer ball, but, you know, a shame for Nathan to go down as well, and I thought he would have done a great job with the harder, harder newer ball out of that ruff as well. But again, we just found a way, which I think is a, you know, a feature of this group over a number of years now, as we, even at times where it's not going our way, we can find a way to get ourselves out of line.

Pretty blustery conditions as well for yourself. Yeah, it was a bit gusty, sort of coming from all directions, But that's part and parcel of playing cricket with the footmarks and whatnot. But yeah, another fantastic day. Have you enjoyed the responsibility of just really taking it on with that new ball, especially in the absence of Pat and Josh at the start there? And then obviously not having Josh for the last couple of games. Yeah, obviously a massive shame for Josh.

He was flying heading into the series. So a big loss for us there. I don't think I've changed anything. Obviously, it's been a lot made outside the group of Pat not being there the first two. This week, he was phenomenal. and it was the Pat Cummins we know and love. We had Nathan back this week until sort of later on today.

He was fantastic again. Ness, Doggy, and they played a massive part in these three tests and Scotty. We know what Scottie does. So yeah, it's been an all-round performance with the ball, certainly with the bat. The two guys playing at home this week

who had a phenomenal week, so I'm really pleased for them as well. You've had your own great time with the bat as well. Has it been nice to contribute, certainly up at the Gabba and here, of course? Always nice to contribute. It's a bit tiring, but yeah, I think it's sort of something where it's spoken a little bit about in the group

is how important those lower order runs can be. Certainly the session that Scotty and I batted in Queensland to get us to the night session, played a big part with sort of the rewards we got later in the day. So, yeah, anytime we contribute with the bat, he's always important. Yeah, managed to get a bit of luck as well. And yeah, good fun.

There's been some amazing moments right throughout this series. You talk about planning and strategy, but the execution has been exemplary. But also, you know, we joke about the age. Experience must count for a lot. 100%. We do laugh at some of the comments that get back to us about how old we are.

And I think that plays a part in how calm this group is. Certainly it hasn't always been going our way with the rubber the green. And I think that's certainly led by Pat and Andrew and how they've geled this group together over a number of years. I'm sure experience plays a part with going through your highs and lows, but I think the levelness of this group, being able to find a

way from most situations and probably forgetting about things if it hasn't gone our way. So, yeah, I think that that plays a big part in all this. Obviously, we've got a few younger guys and I think that that probably rubs off on them a little bit as well. And that credit to certainly all the players, but definitely all the staff, you know, led by Andrew, but we've got a big contingent of staff members and they've played a huge role in certainly this series, but for a number of years. I'm just going to keep you there for a second. In you come, Trave.

a special moment for yourself here at Adelaide Oval but I'm just going to get a word for it from Mitch how good was that innings? Yeah, great no, if he wasn't before he's the king of Adelaide so I'm not sure he's going to have to pay for another

oh he's got a few sponsors anyway but he's not going to have to pay for another beer it's great to watch but it's not just Trave but I think the partnership with Alex the two guys playing at home how much this ground means to them how much that partnership meant to us as a group and to get us to that position so No, I don't know how he does it, but Jesus is bloody good to watch.

He really is. Set it up the series as well with that fabulous ton over in Perth. Yes, you can go off now. Just a word from you before we get to your innings on Mitch Stark and what he's provided, not just with the ball, but with the bat. He saved me at the end, not having a bowl too many overs. When Gazz went down, I thought, geez, I might be able to take the winner, and that would be nice touch.

And then I got panned everywhere for the first three hours. I couldn't hit the rough, so huge. We've had a sort of next man in. I've talked about the last couple of days about next man in mentality. we've used, what, 14 or the 15, if that's right, no, we'd probably use 15, a few bikes out of the squad and both coming in. He's been huge, I'm not sure quite how many wickets he's got now for the series, but I probably couldn't think of three games in a series better than he's had so far

with ball and then he stepped up with the bat as well. He's been awesome. Yeah, he really has the whole bowling attack. Pat coming in and taking wickets. But let's talk about your knock, 170 here. How special was it? Fourth consecutive century here in Adelaide, Oval. And you get the job done.

of the Adelaide test. In 11 days, you've won the Ashes. Yeah, huge. A few weeks ago, I sort of tempted the idea of finishing here. So my work's cut out for the next day. I've got my work cut out for tonight, tomorrow, and organising a few things in Adelaide, which are already done. So I'm looking forward to the next 40 hours. How long did it take you to organise? Three minutes. Okay. You know all the great spots to go here.

We've seen you on a night out on a few occasions after a few wins here in Adelaide. But that knock, just how big was it for you? And how do you rate it amongst your other knocks here, especially when you're thinking about the context of the series? Yeah, I guess everyone's nice. You probably think it's right up there. Winning a series and getting runs in the second innings, obviously. Yeah, we would have loved a few.

I would have loved a few more. I don't know how long I've been taking that for another couple of hours. But, yeah, obviously, just set the game up in the third innings. On a good wicket, I felt like it was there. And obviously, I'm batting being a bit new to me. So nice to spend all day out there. Huge with Alex at the end. But, yeah, they set a game up to win a game, game three of a series to wrap the ashes up is, yeah, it's a huge moment.

We're just playing 100 moment now. Jess was in the crowd, your family here as well. I imagine it's a goosebumps feeling and quite an addictive one as well. I'm looking forward to not doing tickets every morning. It's been hard work, but it's been awesome. I think the back's been pumping, as it should be. I think we got what, I don't know how many we had in today, but record crowd. It's been a huge week and, yeah, as expected.

And you had to think of a different celebration this time. Yeah, a bit of a rise from the boys. I got a bit of a rev-up from the lads. I said, it's seen Davey Warner Bow here. So I thought, I'm the fourth time. I might as well kiss the wicket. It's been pretty good to me. So, yeah, nice touch.

Probably a little bit out of the comfort zone doing it. But, yeah, you've got the rise out. I always forget that we're playing on a national stage and everyone's watching. And all I'm trying to do is make 15 bokes in there and a few staff members laugh and have a good time. So if having time again, not sure, but a nice one to put on the wall, isn't it? Yeah. Just a couple more.

for you before we let you go and celebrate. You seem to be enjoying opening the batting, averaging 70. Well, yeah, look, I'm happy to bat anywhere in the team. I feel like I'm batting really well. And, you know, I was disappointed with a couple of starts I've got in the series already. So when you're batting well and you feel like it's working, and last summer works well for me as well. And trying to back innings up is really important.

And, yeah, new role. I like the new ball. I think I've got opportunities to score. It's a little bit different. Obviously, I can get off to a bit of a quicker start with filters behind the bat, etc. And navigate my way through that. Ron's always talked about problem solving and I feel like that's what I can do for the team and I'm happy and I feel like I've problem solved well so far in the series and we go to two different venues now, Melbourne and Sydney that the last few years been pretty tough with the new ball. So I'm looking forward to that challenge. Just lastly, how good is it to be part of this team? Yeah, it's bloody amazing.

Travis Head and then before that Mitchell start speaking to Isha Goers. So Australia have won the ashes. They are 3-0 up in the series. They've beaten. in England by 82 runs in this third test match at the Adelaide Oval. Now I can still see in my mind's eye England's celebrating at the SCG in January 2011. So that's nearly 15

years ago. Andy Zaltzman alongside me with all the stats. So how many games is it that England have not won in Australia? Zoltz and what sort of record is that in terms of comparing with other losing streets or

failure to win matches. Well, that's now 18 tests since that game at the SCG 15 years ago. England have lost 16 and drawn 2. Going back to 1990, so the last 35 years of Ash's tours, England's total record now reached, played 48-16, drawn 4, lost 38. Looking at just the first three tests of the series, so the key phase of the series, in those 10 tours, England have won one test out of 30, drawn four and lost 25.

It has been a remarkably one-sided rivalry. It didn't used to be that way. Australia generally held the upper hand here, but England would win series reasonably often and win matches quite often. So they've been 3-0 down after 3 in six of the last seven tours, the exception being Strauss's victorious tour in 2010-11. So 6 of the last 7, 3-0 down after 3.

There had only been three such series out of the previous 27 in Australia for England. So these have been uniquely poor times. England's previous, a longest run without a win in Australia was 12 tests. That was either side of the Second World War. So yes, it's not gone well, I think, in summary. What other stats do you have for us? What else have you picked out? Well, I guess if we're looking for crumbs of comfort,

one would be that England are being thrashed by a narrower margin than on most of those recent tours. So looking back to 1998-9, if you exclude the series that England won, the difference between the two teams in terms of runs per wicket is about 11.4 in this series. That's the narrowest out of the last, well, the last seven thrashings England's had. It's quite stale crumbs of comfort, those holes. pretty pretty pretty stale so there's yeah there's that

and I think that sort of highlights why people thought this was going to be a more competitive series than it has been I don't think people are expecting it to be to be 3-0 after after 3 in terms of runs per over though England have conceded over four runs and over in each of the three tests

so far 4.09 here and they scored at 3.35 in the last test they scored at 3.8 and conceded at 4.5. The first time since Stokes and McCollum took over England had been the slower scoring team in consecutive tests, they'd only been the slower scoring team in three of their first 42 tests

and never by a significant margin as the 0.6, 0.7 and over that we've seen in these last two games. So, yeah, the sort of basball has been, well, fully deflated when you look at it from that point of view. In the last series in England, England scored over a run and over faster than

Australia across the series. So look at the catches. I make it that Australia have dropped one relatively simple catch in the whole series and England's seven or eight. So that's been another big difference. And perhaps the biggest difference between the two sides and there's a number of factors that go into this is the inability of England to turn their good starts into significant inning.

So I've looked at the amount of times each side has reached 25. England have had 24 scores of 25 or more. Australia 17. Australia haven't batted as much because they won those first two test easy batch. She's a proportion of total innings. England's reaching 25 slightly more than Australia, but then they're failing to go on. England only have 850 plus scores out of those 24 scores of 25. Australia has converted 12 of their 17-25s into 50s and 300s. So England's average runs added off to 25 is just 29 more. Australia's just 48 more.

So once England gets in, Australia's finding ways of getting them out. I guess, speaks to, I guess, patience in the batting, but also the depth of bowling in this test. The first of Australia's sort of had four of their first choice, five bowlers. Hazel was out for the series. But the other four, the fourth best bowler in this Australian team, according to the world rankings, is the 10th best bowler in those rankings at the moment.

So that shows the challenge England have had in this match specifically. some of the Australian achievements in this series. Mitchell Stark, we heard from there, two six-fers in the series, two-fifties, only one other cricketer in Ash's history has done that in a series. That was Ian Botham in 1981. Travis Head, two second innings, hundreds, only the 10th player to do that in an Ashes series. Alex Carey, in this test, had the most runs ever by a wicketkeeper in a men's ashes test.

Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon, Lionbold, a couple of those in the first. First S missed the second, Cummins coming in for this game. Cummins took six wickets, all of them top seven players, five of them top four players, including Joe Root twice for just eight runs, Nathan Lyon, five wickets all top six players. So they come in and had a huge impact on this game to clinch the Ashes. So it's now for England's five Ashes series without a win. It's eight since the last away win in Ash's history. There's only been one away win in the last 13.

previous to that sequence, which began 2001, Australia won in England, since then just one away win in 13 series. Prior to that, there'd never been a sequence of more than three Ashes series without the away team winning. So this away dominance that we've seen, obviously, Australia winning comfortably at home generally the series in England have been generally close, but Australia's failed to get over the line in them. We've not seen that before in Ashes, so that, you know, it used to be a lot more competitive in terms of away teams challenging for victory. And also, yet again, the ashes has decided way before the end of the series, the ninth time in England's last 10 tours,

that the ashes have gone after three out of five tests, and only two of the last 21 Ashes series, either in England or Australia, have seen the ashes on the line in the final test. So that's another disappointment to add to the list. Thanks very much. Zoltz Comprehensive as ever. Now, you can watch the highlights on the BBC Sport website and that with our full highlight show on BBC IPlayer

available every day of the series from 5pm. The TMS Ashes Debrief with Alex Hartley is also on the eye player every day. Look out for our BBL coverage over the next few days on BBC Sounds as well and we'll be back on Christmas night on five sports extra and also on Five Live

for a night of Ashesed programmes before the first ball at 11.30pm. The TMS podcast from BBC Radio 5 Live. This month in football, everything is up for grabs. The Premier League battles intensify, the Champions League reaches its crucial turning point, and the World Cup draw sets the stage for the biggest tournament on earth. Football Daily from the BBC brings you sharp analysis, instant reaction, expert insight, and the stories driving the game on and off the pitch.

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