Ashes: Ben Stokes says England players should not be ‘isolated’ in Sydney Test

England were incredibly disappointing losing the first three Tests in 11 days only to surrender the series at the earliest opportunity.

But the tourists won the fourth Test in Melbourne for their first win in this country in nearly 15 years.

Stokes, head coach Brendon McCullum and director of cricket Rob Key all said they wanted to stay in their jobs despite the Ashes defeat.

While Stokes looks likely to stay, the positions of McCullum and Key will come under greater scrutiny if England lose at the SCG.

Conversely, former captain Michael Vaughan has previously said that England’s win in Sydney at the end of a 4-1 Ashes defeat in 2002-03 was the start of their road to an epic home winning streak in 2005.

“Unfortunately the Ashes didn’t go for us the way we wanted it to go, but we have another game in a big game in a big series,” Stokes said.

England’s next Test is only at the start of a three-match series at home against New Zealand in June.

Including the Test in Sydney, England have 14 matches before their next Ashes series at home in the summer of 2027.

However, Stokes does not view this match as a stepping stone to reclaiming the urn next year.

“This is a long way from where we are now,” the 34-year-old said. “We have a big test to play here and a big gap until our next series. All this is a time to think. Now is not the time to do it.”

As has become a tradition in Sydney, the fifth Test will have a pink stamp for the Jane McGrath Foundation, a charity set up in memory of the late wife of legendary Australian bowler Glenn McGrath.

This will mark the final Test in the career of Australian batsman Usman Khawaja, who announced on Friday that this will be his last international match.

Australia captain Steve Smith, who is three years younger than Khawaja at 36, has confirmed that he will not follow him into retirement just yet.

This is Australia’s final Test until a home series against Bangladesh in August, which marks the start of a busy schedule leading up to the 2027 Ashes.

Australia have not won a series in England since 2001 and Smith is yet to indicate whether he intends to make the trip.

“Obviously I’m older and wiser,” he said. “Maybe one day I’ll wake up and say: That’s enough. Who knows? Now I’m not going anywhere.”