Former England captain Michael Atherton has delivered a scathing verdict on the 2025-26 Ashes series, labelling it the "most hyped, yet the most underwhelming Ashes for years." His criticism comes after Australia secured the coveted urn with commanding victories in the first three Tests, leaving England to salvage pride with a solitary win in Melbourne.
Australia's Dominance and England's Flicker of Hope
The series outcome was decided early as the Australian team displayed overwhelming superiority. They clinched the Perth Test by eight wickets, followed by an eight-wicket triumph in Brisbane and an 82-run victory in Adelaide. This early blitz ensured the Ashes remained in Australian hands, extending England's winless streak on Australian soil since 2011.
England's only consolation came during the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, where they secured a four-wicket win. This victory, however, was part of a pattern of short matches, with the Melbourne Test becoming the third-shortest ever played in Australia, and the Perth Test ranking as the second-shortest by balls bowled.
Atherton's Blunt Assessment of the Series
In his column for The Times, Atherton did not mince words. He described the cricket as "one-sided and uncompetitive," producing "13 days of haphazard, error-strewn and slapdash cricket." He expressed a hope that the final Test in Sydney could "add a little lustre" to what has not been a vintage contest.
Interestingly, Atherton noted that while Australia is celebrating another Ashes triumph, there is a local yearning for a proper contest. "Even as Australians take delight in hammering the Poms, there is also a genuine yearning for a proper struggle in the final Test, one that reveals the full variety and glory of the five-day game," he wrote.
Stokes Backs McCullum Amid Growing Scrutiny
The series loss has intensified scrutiny on England's 'Bazball' era under coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes. Since McCullum took charge, England have won 25 of 44 Tests, but 14 of those wins came in his first 19 matches in charge. In the last two years, England have lost 13 Tests compared to 11 wins.
Ahead of the Sydney Test, Stokes firmly defended McCullum, stating he had "no doubt they were the right people" to lead the team forward. He warned that ripping up their approach would rewind progress to the dark days after the previous Ashes tour. However, Atherton pointed out that Stokes' unwavering loyalty was unsurprising but came with a caveat—an admission that results and performances have declined over the past year.
The Path Forward for England
Atherton argued that England must accept their preparation for this Ashes tour went awry. He suggested the team needs a recalibration, moving the pendulum back towards an environment that "embraces pressure, is results-orientated and geared more obviously towards high performance."
He also highlighted a potential distraction, noting McCullum's expanded role to include white-ball duties means he will be on the road until after the T20 World Cup in March 2026, making immediate reflection on the Ashes defeat more difficult.
Paradoxically, Atherton observed that despite the lopsided scoreline, "it feels as though Australia's team is on the cusp of more significant change than England's," referencing the impending retirement of batsman Usman Khawaja and others. For England, the task is not to start over, but to find the right path again after a clearly wrong turn in Australia.
