The Ashes: Ben Stokes says England players should not be ‘insular’ in Sydney Test
It was incredibly disappointing as England lost the first three Tests in just 11 days to concede the series at the first opportunity.
But the tourists won the fourth Test in Melbourne, their first victory in this country for almost 15 years.
Stokes, head coach Brendon McCullum and director of cricket Rob Key all said they wanted to keep their jobs despite the Ashes defeat.
While Stokes looks likely to stay, McCullum and Key’s positions will come under further scrutiny if England lose at the SCG.
By contrast, former captain Michael Vaughan has previously said England’s victory in Sydney following a 4-1 Ashes defeat in 2002-03 was the start of a path to an epic series win on home soil in 2005.
“Unfortunately for us the Ashes didn’t go our way but we have one more game in the big game of a big series,” Stokes said.
England’s next test will not be until the start of a three-match series at home to New Zealand in June.
England have 14 matches before the next Ashes series at home in the summer of 2027, including the Test in Sydney.
However, Stokes does not see this match as a springboard to reclaiming the trophy next year.
“This is a long way from where we are now,” the 34-year-old said. “We’ve got a big Test to play here and a big gap until our next series. This is all time to think. Now is not the time to do that.”
In what has become a Sydney tradition, the fifth Test will have a pink theme for the Jane McGrath Foundation, a charity created in memory of the late wife of legendary Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath.
It will be the last Test in the career of Australian batsman Usman Khawaja, who announced on Friday that this would be his last international match.
Australia’s stand-in captain Steve Smith, 36 and three years Khawaja’s junior, has confirmed he will not follow him into retirement just yet.
This is Australia’s last Test until their home series against Bangladesh in August, marking the start of a busy schedule leading up to the 2027 Ashes.
Australia have not won a series in England since 2001 and Smith has not yet indicated whether he will take part in the trip.
“Of course I’m older and wiser,” he said. “Maybe one day I’ll wake up and say ‘that’s enough.’ Who knows? I’m not going anywhere right now.”
