After losing the Ashes 3-0 in a record-equalling 11 days, what could the future hold for this group of players?

Ollie Pope

Six innings, 125 runs, average 20.83, high score 46

Scored a composed 46 on the first day of the series, but his game then disintegrated under pressure, not helped by the openers never lasting longer than the eighth over together. It would be amazing if this was not the end of the road.

Prospects A spell in the wilderness beckons, probably permanently.

Joe Root

Six innings, 219 runs, average 43.80, high score 138*

Played brilliantly for an unbeaten 138 in Brisbane, England’s only century of the series, but has otherwise not reached 40, with the return of his nemesis Pat Cummins ensuring he was unable to make a significant impact on the game in Adelaide.

Prospects Outside Australia he will remain a champion.

Harry Brook

Six innings, 173 runs, average 28.83, high score 52

An average of 28.83 — half his career figure — represents a huge underachievement. By his own admission he fell to terrible shots in the second innings in Perth and the first innings in Brisbane, but he reined himself in at Adelaide to some benefit.

Prospects Should spend less time trying to knock bowlers off their lengths and just bat.

Ben Stokes

Six innings, 165 runs, average 27.50, high score 83

He has battled hard with bat and ball, but been dragged down by the failures around him. He will be devastated at how things have turned out, but while he must take responsibility for some of the planning errors, England need Stokes to continue as player and captain.

Prospects: As long as he stays fit he remains the man to lead England in the 2027 Ashes.

Jamie Smith

Six innings, 134 runs, average 22.33, high score 60

By asking him to keep wicket in Tests when he does not do so for Surrey, England invited the kind of crucial errors behind the stumps that cost them dear in Brisbane. His second innings of 60 in Adelaide suggested he was finally working out how to build an innings in Australian conditions.

Prospects Will keep his place, but needs to improve his glove work.

Brydon Carse

Five innings, 14 wickets, 29.28 average, five-fors: 0

Comfortably England’s leading wicket-taker, with 14 at 29.28, but is flattered by this return. Woefully inconsistent and his tendency to leak boundaries thwarted any hope of building pressure. Showed his ability with the bat on the last day in Adelaide.

Prospects Has work to do, but England like his warrior mentality.

Jofra Archer

Six innings, 9 wickets, 27.11 average, five-fors: 1

Perhaps the only player to enhance his reputation. England’s best bowler, a wicket-taking threat as well as being economical, and a useful contributor of runs down the order. Fitness-wise, has exceeded expectations by playing all three Tests and looks good for more.

Prospects This tour has given hope of him playing regular Test cricket, but only when conditions are right.

Will Jacks

Batting: Five innings, 113 runs, 28.25 average, high-score 47. Bowling: 3 innings, 4 wickets, 61.50 average.

He was brought on tour with the pink-ball Test in Brisbane in mind, but with England wanting to shore up the batting and Shoaib Bashir short of preparation, he was kept on for Adelaide. His bowling needs work, but he showed true grit with the bat.

Prospects Has the character and desire to play Test cricket, but long-term role may be as a batsman who bowls.

Gus Atkinson

Four innings, 3 wickets, 78.66 average

Bowled better than his figures suggested in the first two Tests and is likely to return in Melbourne after missing Adelaide. Quiet man who may have found Australia’s hostility a challenge, but good enough to come again.

Prospects: Should play plenty more Test cricket.

Josh Tongue

Two innings, 5 wickets, 26.80 average

Did not feature until Adelaide, but justified his inclusion with five wickets, all of them top-seven players. He was also denied the wicket of Alex Carey on day one by the Snicko glitch. Looks sure to be retained for Melbourne.

Prospects Strong future as an X-factor bowler.

Mark Wood

Two innings, 0 wickets

Given a three-year contract to get him through to this tour, but injury meant he arrived without cricket in nine months. Unsurprisingly his body was not robust enough and went home after the first Test.

Prospects: Given his age, unlikely to feature again.