Best game of cricket on tour but still not good enough: Stokes

Eleven days of Test cricket was all it took for Australia to retain the Ashes Down Under. An 82-run win in Adelaide gave Australia an unassailable 3-0 lead. For Ben Stokes, who dreamt of joining the list of captains to win the urn in Australia, the dream ended tamely.

England have now lost 16 of their last 18 Tests in Australia, with no wins since the 2013/14 Ashes whitewash.

"It obviously sucks," said Stokes after the defeat. He expressed disappointment but emphasized there is still "a hell of a lot to play for" in the remaining Tests in Melbourne and Sydney. "Knowing now that we can't achieve what we set out to do here is obviously incredibly disappointing. We have still got two games to go… there is still a hell of a lot to play for."

England were outplayed in Perth and Brisbane, making Adelaide a do-or-die match. Their inability to hold nerve in key moments and poor shot-making, including soft dismissals from Harry Brook and Ollie Pope, proved costly. Brook also dropped two crucial catches—Usman Khawaja on 5 in the first innings and Travis Head on 99 in the second—which shifted momentum. On Day 2, England's bowling lacked penetration, allowing Australia's tail to wag and reach 371.

Stokes admitted Australia consistently outperformed England in all facets. "Australia have been able to execute batting, bowling, and fielding a lot more than us on a much more consistent basis. They've outdone us on all three… over a much more consistent period of time."

Heading into Day 5, many expected a quick finish, but England showed fight through Jamie Smith, Will Jacks, and Brydon Carse, displaying the 'dog' Stokes wanted.

Stokes noted positives, saying some players "learned a lot more about themselves throughout this week." He added, "There were a lot of positives to take out of this game… We had guys going out there in high-pressure moments and I thought they stood up very, very well."

However, he concluded, "This is our best game of cricket so far in this tour, but still not good enough."

When questioned about Ashes preparation, Stokes dismissed hindsight. "I hate living in hindsight because you can never change what you have done… We've not been able to stand up to what Australia have thrown at us. All the training and hours we've put in… It's what you do out there that matters most."

England now aim to salvage pride, with the fourth Ashes Test starting on December 26 in Melbourne.