The Ashes 2025-26: England’s Ben Stokes wants to remain captain despite Australia defeat
Prior to this series, the 34-year-old had agreed a new England center contract which would run until the end of the next Ashes season in the UK in 2027.
This series loss, with just 11 one-day cricket in the first three Tests, is likely to put pressure on the positions of McCullum and director of cricket Rob Key.
Given Stokes’ influence and importance to the England team, the Durham man will likely be given the opportunity to continue as captain if he wants that role.
He has a checkered injury history – Stokes has struggled with knee, hamstring and shoulder problems for the last two years.
And the captain has visibly devoted a lot of emotional energy to this series. When he was dismissed in the second innings of the second Test in Brisbane and then in the first innings in Adelaide, he threw his bat into the air in frustration.
When asked if he still had the energy for the job, Stokes said: “Absolutely.”
Stokes, who scored 83 in over five hours in the first innings, did not bowl on the third day in Adelaide and took the ball at the start of the fourth day.
“I didn’t feel very well,” he said. “I knew I still had a big role to play so I didn’t want to expose myself.
“Every time I ran after the ball I felt like I was going to break down, so I just looked at myself.
“I had a good night, woke up the next morning and was ready to go again, but I actually took the advice a couple of senior kids gave me for a change.”
