One of the many observations made amid the wreckage of England’s last tour of Australia in 2021-22 was that the tourists needed to consider getting away from so much hyper-focus on the Ashes.

Initially, it seemed that Bazball did indeed take that approach, emphasising the joy to be had in the journey rather than purely fixing on the destination of the next Ashes series or tour.

An unhappy Ben Stokes leaves Adelaide Oval.Credit: AP

But in the months and weeks before the series that ended on Sunday with Australia 3-0 in credit within 11 playing days, that old hyper-focus returned with much rhetorical flourish. Partly, this was a byproduct of England’s repeated failure to compete in or even respect the world Test championship, where all matches are played for points. It was also billed as part of the team’s evolution.

For Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, this was somewhat of a contradiction. Having worked so hard to take pressure out of the dressing room, England now leaned into that pressure, blowing more and more hot air into their Ashes balloon as if under the impression that enough huffing and puffing would get it airborne.

Take this from Stokes a couple of days before the Perth Test: “I’ve come here absolutely desperate to get home on that plane in January as one of the lucky few captains from England who have come here and been successful. A lot has been spoken of about the history and how it has gone for England. This is our chance to create our own history and it is up to us how that looks.

Mitch Starc celebrates a wicket on day five as Australia closed in on victory.Credit: Getty Images

“Everyone........

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