Australia retained the Ashes at the earliest of chances after taking a 3–0 lead against England just after the third Test in Adelaide. England's anger over the defeat increased by how rapidly it had transpired. The crux of the series had been sealed in 11 days of cricket, and Australia had managed to control almost all significant moments. While England did show signs of resistance, self-inflicted errors, some simply dreadful decision-making, and the execution of the Australians sealed the urn down under once again. Here are the seven glaring reasons why England did not win the 2025–26 Ashes. 7 Reasons England Lost the Ashes 2025-26 Costly Batting Collapses at Important Stages For most of the series, England's worst trouble was batting for a long time. A collapse at Perth during the match set the tone for the Ashes. After bowling Australia out for only 132, England found themselves 65 for 1 and in total control of the game. Then they did a great job of choking under pressure. England lost 3 wickets for no runs and was bowled out for 164. This collapse handed momentum straight back to Australia. It was the same batting failure in Brisbane and then in Adelaide wherein England lost clusters of wickets after getting set. Such collapses are hard to recover from in Test cricket- especially in Australia. Also Read | Watch: Travis Head’s Cheeky Gesture Sparks 'Ball-Tampering' Jokes at Gabba Travis Head: England Had No Answer One player who completely summed up all that went against England was Travis Head. Following an injury to Usman Khawaja, he was promoted as an opener in Perth and smashed an unbelievable match-winning 123 off 83 balls. In a far better way, in Adelaide, he came on and showed his worth with an amazing knock of 170, ensuring that the match was beyond any reaching distance for England. What a truly magnificent #Ashes knock from Travis Head!Catch his highlights: https://t.co/LNM63GhgGe pic.twitter.com/55ifowUWdS — cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 20, 2025 England tried pace, tried short balls, tried spin, and tried setting defensive fields, all without success. Head controlled the rhythm of play, taking the match back into Australia’s favor every time England built a glimmer of hope. England Were Hurt by Poor Fielding England's poor fielding only made a tough tour tougher. At Gabba, five very catchable chances went begging during Australia's first innings. Jamie Smith dropped Head on three occasions, while Ben Duckett dropped Alex Carey on none. Both proved to be costly mistakes. Against teams of Australia's caliber, missed chances invariably result in lost matches. England failed to back their bowlers and allowed the Australians build big scores instead of hurting them with some pressure. Also Read | From Mitchell Starc to Richard Hadley Top 5 fast bowlers in their prime post 35 years Key Brain Fades from Senior Batters Stupidity at its peak.When a partnership was finally settling, Harry Brook threw it away for a needless Bazball shot.No wonder England fans won't spare him.This isn't fearlessness this is recklessness.#TheAshes pic.twitter.com/D8arIvgXac — KISHORE..... (@nanadianand) December 20, 2025 England's senior batters could not keep their disciplines when it really mattered. Harry Brook's reckless shot in Brisbane, where England were 176 for three, ended up handing a vital wicket to Australia. Shortly thereafter, Ben Stokes was run out due to an unfortunate shared decision. Ollie Pope and Zak Crawley repeated the same sin during the second innings, both caught and bowled after attempting to drive on the up. The characteristics of their dismissals displayed a foreboding lack of patience and sound thinking that snuffed out England's fighting chance. Australia's Lower Order Hurt England Again and Again The other big reason for England's failures was the inability to finish off Australia's tail. Mitchell Starc's unbelievable 77 in Brisbane helped Australia to 511 and take a commanding lead. England bowlers had their chances to restrict the damages but let the lower order take the command. These extra runs proved crucial, turning competitive situations into a defeat for England. Also Read | Mitchell Starc Demands Snicko be “Sacked” After Wrong Calls in Adelaide Test Missed Chances and a Technology Controversy Snicko 🤦‍♂️#Ashes pic.twitter.com/y4Tf7CWqHk — England's Barmy Army 🏴🎺 (@TheBarmyArmy) December 21, 2025 Moments of intrigue and ill-luck afflicted England, but many were self-inflicted. In the Decision Review System in Adelaide, a Snicko operator error let Alex Carey survive a caught-behind review. Englishmen expressed their fury, but they lost their chances thereafter. Carey made a telling century putting fully-conceded and swinging win for Australia. It was unfortunate, alright, but England's inability to recover speaks volumes about their fragile mindset regarding those moments throughout the series. Much Higher Standard of Bowling from Australia In the end, perhaps the tremendous difference was given by the quality and consistency of the Australian bowling attack. Pat Cummins led from the front, dismissing Joe Root two times in Adelaide and taking his tally to 13 Test wickets against Root, more than any other bowler. Mitchell Starc's pace and swing, Nathan Lyon's control, and the support from the rest of the attack left England struggling in every Test. England rarely looked comfortable against Australian bowlers, especially on lively pitches. The hosts maintained relentless pressure on the visitors, who faltered in response.