England’s ignominious Ashes ends in defeat and a lifetime of regret

Hello and welcome to live, over-by-over coverage of the 18th and final day of the 2025-26 Ashes. In hindsight it was done and dusted on day two, when England blew a glorious chance to go 1-0 up and were devastated by Travis Head’s astonishing century. The probable 4-1 scoreline is a fair reflection of a series that Australia have dominated without really needing to hit top gear. Pound for pound, certainly from an England perspective, it might be the most disappointing Ashes series of the lot.

That would usually mean an overwhelming doom and gloom, but that’s not quite the case here. Many people make England favourites for the return series in 18 months’ time. They will be at home, and even this ageless Australian team can’t go forever.

Then there’s Jacob Bethell, whose charming, stunningly mature 142 not out yesterday enhanced the feeling that England have unearthed a future superstar. A middle order of Bethell, Joe Root and Harry Brook has the highest imaginable ceiling and should the super-strength around which England redevelop their team. At the end of the most confusing of Ashes series, England were shown how to bat in red-ball cricket by a kid who had never previously scored a first-class century.

England will resume on 302 for 8, a lead of 119, with Bethell hoping to farm the strike and set Australia an awkward target between 180 and 200. It’s not beyond the realms – Australia have a rich history of failing to reach small targets in the fourth innings – but it’s extremely unlikely, especially as England will be without Ben Stokes both as bowler and captain.

Stokes looked a broken man when he walked off yesterday evening after being dismissed for 1. We all hoped his career was building towards this series, that he would lift the urn at the SCG and effectively complete English cricket. Instead he has a bad groin injury, a batting average of 18 – Bethell has already scored more runs this series – and a head full of frustration. For Stokes and his team, the flight home can’t come soon enough.