So perhaps the result that ended Bazball in the minds of many, if not in reality: An Ashes smashing in Australia.

England came out optimistic at the end of the first day in Perth seem like a distant memory.

Despite being bowled out for 172, the visitors were ready to take a lead in the first innings after reducing Australia to 123-9.

Even just after lunch on the second day, all was going well for England as they led by over 100, just one wicket down.

Then everything went wrong.

A collapse from 65-1 to 88-6, Travis Head crushed them everywhere and defeated them in two days.

Australia needed a little more time to finish them off in the day and night in Brisbane, but they still won comfortably, and although there was a little more fight at the end in Adelaide, it came too late and the Ashes dream was over.

All this against an Australian team that lost Pat Cummins in the first two Tests (and was rested in the last two), Josh Hazlewood for the entire series and Steve Smith in the third.

The victory in Melbourne, the first in Australia for 15 years, provided some consolation.

McCullum was given another chance but a 2-1 series defeat against New Zealand to start the home summer of 2026 saw him released by England.