In the wake of England's Ashes series defeat, captain Ben Stokes is standing firm in his belief that he and coach Brendon McCullum are the right leaders to steer the national cricket team forward.

Despite losing the series 3-0 to Australia, Stokes remains defiant about the pair's ability to transform England's Test cricket performance. Their recent victory in the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne - breaking a 19-year winless streak in Australia - provides a glimmer of hope and potential.

"There is no doubt in my mind that me and Brendon are the right people to carry on doing this for the near future," Stokes declared, emphasizing their commitment to the team's long-term strategy. Both are contracted for another 18 months, with their tenure set to culminate in the home Ashes summer of 2027.

The tour has been emotionally and professionally challenging for Stokes, who acknowledged the intense scrutiny the team has faced. "No doubt it's been tough. I can't sit and lie and say it's been a walk in the park," he admitted, highlighting the relentless media attention and social media commentary.

Stokes believes maintaining continuity is crucial to avoiding past patterns of inconsistency. "We haven't won here since 2010. Ashes tours in the past haven't gone well," he explained. "If you do what we've done in the past, we'll just end up back in the same situation."

Despite Australian head coach Andrew McDonald suggesting the series was effectively over at 3-0, Stokes remains motivated. "We're still going out there and representing our country, so there's still lots to play for," he stated, demonstrating the team's resilience and pride.

The upcoming Sydney Test represents a final opportunity for England to demonstrate their potential and end the series on a positive note. Stokes and McCullum are committed to using the upcoming months to strategize and continue developing their innovative "Bazball" approach to Test cricket.