Overview
- Australia beat England by 82 runs in Adelaide to secure an unassailable 3-0 lead and keep the urn with two Tests to spare.
- The series was effectively surrendered in just 11 days of play, matching England’s 2002–03 record for the quickest Ashes defeat in a five-Test campaign.
- England’s late resistance featured a 91-run stand between Jamie Smith and Will Jacks after Nathan Lyon left with a hamstring injury, but Australia closed out the chase.
- Alex Carey was named Player of the Match after scores of 106 and 72, complementing key contributions from Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Travis Head.
- Brendon McCullum conceded preparation errors, Ben Stokes said the loss “hurts” but promised full effort in Melbourne and Sydney, and former captains including Geoffrey Boycott and Michael Vaughan urged changes at the top with warnings of a potential whitewash.