"Maybe we didn't get that right" - Brendon McCullum's candid admission after England concede Ashes 2025-26 series to Australia

England’s under-fire head coach Brendon McCullum finally conceded defeat after Australia won the third Ashes Test by 82 runs to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series. Following another embarrassment in the Ashes Down Under, the coach admitted that the tourists didn’t prepare well, adding that there was room for change.

With yet another Ashes series loss, the future of McCullum, skipper Ben Stokes, and the ECB’s managing director, Rob Key, remains uncertain. England haven’t won a Test match in Australia since their series win during their 2010/11 tour. The McCullum and Stokes duo were expected to turn things around with their Bazball approach, but it wasn't meant to be.

Following the defeat, McCullum said (via BBC Sport):

“It is disappointing when you lose, and I'm sure there will be plenty of questions asked, and rightfully so. We haven't got everything right. I haven't got everything right as a coach, and I put my hand up for that. “I have been very strong about the conviction we had and our preparation, and, you know, for us, it was a matter of trying to replicate what we have done in series that have been successful for us away from home. Maybe we didn't get that right, and I'll acknowledge that.”

He continued:

“Ultimately, you are responsible for how you get your side ready and how you prepare them. We are 3-0 down, so you would probably say there was room for change there. Again, you put your hand up as a coach and say you might not have gotten that right. At the same time, I felt it would give us our best chance because it has previously. Sitting here 3-0, it didn't wor,” he added.

McCullum reiterated England shouldn’t have undergone an intense training session before the second Ashes Test in Brisbane, adding that their best cricket came on the last two days of the opening Test in Adelaide. He said in the same interaction:

“The five intense training days leading into Brisbane, when we knew it was going to be hot. A few things you look at retrospectively. Your job as a coach is to try to get performance on the field. I was confident we had it right, but obviously we didn't." “The last two days [in Adelaide] have been our best cricket, and that is because we have just played,” he added.

“Under immense pressure, your decision-making can become a little blurred” – Brendon McCullum on England losing Ashes 2025-26

Brendon McCullum pointed out that England were under tremendous pressure in the Ashes, especially after losing the first two games, which affected their decision-making. He added that the team lacked clarity and got stuck.

The 44-year-old told the same publication:

“When you're put under immense pressure, your decision-making can become a little blurred at times, and you don't know whether to stick or twist. That's probably the disappointing aspect because I did think we were rock hard in our belief of the style we were going to play when we were down here, knowing we were going to be challenged.” “But I do think we got a little bit stuck and, again, I'll put my hand up as coach and say there should have been that absolute clarity of 'whatever happens in this series, this is how we need to play' because that is going to give us our best chance," he concluded.

England will now fight for pride in their remaining two Ashes Tests in Melbourne and Sydney. Melbourne will host the Boxing Day Test, beginning on December 26.

Click here to check out the Ashes 2025-26 3rd Test full scorecard.

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Edited by James Kuanal