It was not a debacle. On the pitch it was statistically comfortably better than the
previous 3.
England have won a series in Australia ONCE since 2000.
Failed to win a single test 4 times.
Cook and Root never won there.
Under Stokes we took 20 wickets twice, Root and Cook took 15 tests between them to manage that.
Averaged nearly 16 wickets per match, only Strauss managed more at 18.
Stokes innings average was 90 lower than Aus over the series, only time its been lower than 100 this century, except the sole series win.
The difference in average wickets per match was 3.4, again the closest this century in a lost series.
So in all metrics Stokes was closer to the Aussies than any other england captain this century in defeat.
Was it great? Of course not.
But to call it a debacle is hyperbole, England were well in that series and lost it in moments or sessions.
Posted By: megson on June 29th 2026 at 13:20:03
Message Thread
- Good piece on Stokes and the weirdness of yesterday (Other Sports) - norwaay, Jun 29, 08:26:09
- Interesting but a bit hysterical in places IMO (Other Sports) - APB, Jun 29, 09:58:51
- I seem to recall that you were reasonably relaxed about the whole Ashes debacle? (Other Sports) - paulg, Jun 29, 11:36:41
- It was not a debacle. On the pitch it was statistically comfortably better than the (Other Sports) - megson, Jun 29, 13:20:03
- Relaxed as in there’s not a lot I can do about it (Other Sports) - APB, Jun 29, 12:20:14
- I seem to recall that you were reasonably relaxed about the whole Ashes debacle? (Other Sports) - paulg, Jun 29, 11:36:41
- I'm quite annoyed by it today having reflected (Other Sports) - Jim, Jun 29, 09:19:03
- 100% Jim (Other Sports) - norwaay, Jun 29, 09:57:06
- Brook was the one for me. I can see the argument to disrupt NZ, and it did have (Other Sports) - megson, Jun 29, 11:25:24
- I thought he explained himself quite well at the end of play yesterday (Other Sports) - APB, Jun 29, 09:43:57
- I don;t have a problem with him stepping down if that's how he feels (Other Sports) - Jim, Jun 29, 10:01:56
- He did say it was planned by the hierarchy (his words, I *think*) (Other Sports) - APB, Jun 29, 10:09:26
- Hi Ben (n/m) (Other Sports) - jamesward, Jun 29, 09:45:55
- I don;t have a problem with him stepping down if that's how he feels (Other Sports) - Jim, Jun 29, 10:01:56
- Can we bring Mike Brearley back? (n/m) (Other Sports) - watfordcanary, Jun 29, 09:30:41
- 100% Jim (Other Sports) - norwaay, Jun 29, 09:57:06
- A bit over the top but enjoyed it, thanks. Athers in The Times much more calm and balanced (n/m) (Other Sports) - JD3, Jun 29, 08:57:29
- Yes, I thought that too (n/m) (Other Sports) - Old Git, Jun 29, 09:08:19
- Ex-players watering down their pieces (n/m) (Other Sports) - norwaay, Jun 29, 09:07:37
- He's not right in the head (n/m) (Other Sports) - MonkeyPuzzle, Jun 29, 08:46:14
- Interesting but a bit hysterical in places IMO (Other Sports) - APB, Jun 29, 09:58:51
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