Ashes 2025-26: England’s Ben Stokes wants to remain captain despite Australia’s defeat

Ahead of this series, the 34-year-old has agreed a new central contract in England that will run until the end of the next Ashes in the UK in 2027.

This series loss, completed in just 11 days of cricket across the first three Tests, is likely to put pressure on the jobs of McCullum and director of cricket Rob Key.

Given Stokes’ influence and importance to the England team, it is likely that the Durham player will be given the opportunity to continue as captain if he wants that role.

He has a checkered injury history – Stokes has suffered from knee, hamstring and shoulder problems over the past two years.

The Captain has devoted remarkably a lot of emotional energy to this series. When dismissed in the second innings of the second Test in Brisbane, and then again in the first innings in Adelaide, he threw his bat in the air in frustration.

Asked if he still had the energy for the job, Stokes replied: “Absolutely.”

Having made 83 in over five hours at the crease in the first innings, Stokes did not bowl on day three in Adelaide, before taking the ball at the start of day four.

“I didn’t feel right,” he said. “I knew I still had a big role to play, so I didn’t want to reveal myself.

“I felt like I was going to explode every time I ran after the ball, so I just took care of myself.

“I had a good night, woke up the next morning and was ready to go again, but I did listen to the advice given to me for a change from a few of the big boys.”