England head coach Brendon McCullum was certainly left gutted after England lost the Ashes 2025–26 series, following an 82-run defeat to Australia in the third Test on December 21. The loss handed Australia an unassailable 3-0 lead, allowing them to retain the Ashes in dominant fashion. McCullum admitted England were underprepared for the tour, a shortcoming that ultimately proved costly.
England’s build-up to the series drew criticism, with the team opting for a white-ball tour of New Zealand and just one intra-squad match in Perth instead of focused red-ball preparation. The lack of acclimatisation was exposed in the opening Test, where England collapsed inside two days.
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Speaking after the match, McCullum took full responsibility, conceding his relaxed coaching approach failed to deliver results in Australian conditions.
