Australian media outlets have gleefully proclaimed the demise of England's aggressive 'Bazball' cricket philosophy after the host nation secured the Ashes series with a dominant 3-0 lead. The victory was sealed with an 82-run win in the third Test at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday, 21st December 2025.
Newspapers Deliver the Last Rites
Front pages and sports sections across Australia were united in their mockery of the touring side's pre-series confidence. Both the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age led with the blunt declaration "Bazball is dead." In a particularly pointed jab, The West Australian published a faux death notice in its sports section.
The notice read: "In affectionate remembrance of Bazball, which died at Adelaide Oval on 21st December 2025. Deeply lamented by Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes, but basically no one else." This referenced the leadership duo of coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes, who have championed the ultra-attacking style.
A Swift and Emphatic Series Victory
The comprehensive nature of the defeat has left England's cricketing hierarchy with serious questions to answer. Australia wrapped up the series in just 11 days of actual play, following rapid victories in the first two Tests before the Adelaide finale.
The result also served as a stark rebuttal to pre-series comments from former England player Stuart Broad, who had labelled this the worst Australian side in 15 years. Australian journalists were quick to highlight this, with headlines like "Pre-series potshots now prove a weak argument" and "Cummins' men beat odds to make mockery of Broad's prediction."
Eyes on a Whitewash
Not content with simply reclaiming the urn, Australian focus has immediately shifted to inflicting further humiliation. Several publications are already calling for a 5-0 series clean sweep in the remaining two Tests.
The Daily Telegraph's front page urged "Next stop, 5-0," while the Herald Sun echoed the sentiment with a headline reading "Show no mercy." This aggressive stance was reportedly encouraged by fast bowler Mitchell Starc, who has pushed the team to complete a total whitewash.
Despite the historic triumph over their oldest rivals, the Ashes victory did not completely dominate Australian front pages. Coverage of the aftermath of the recent terror attack on Bondi Beach took precedence in many outlets, with some newspapers opting for only a front-page photograph of the cricket without a supporting story.
