THE STUFFING OF NIGHTMARES

Stokes left hurting after Ashes dream blown away in an early wake-up call despite late resistance

- FROM RORY DOLLARD IN ADELAIDE

BEN STOKES revealed that losing the Ashes in record time “hurts and sucks” following another defeat in Adelaide.

The England skipper spoke on the eve of the series about his dreams of becoming an Ashes-winning captain, but says he has been stung by events of the past month.

"It's hurts and it sucks,” he said. “It's very disappointing knowing that we can't achieve what we set out to do here.

"It's a pretty emotional time for me in the dressing room and for the guys, players, management, backroom stuff.

"I hate living in hindsight because you can never change what you have done... it's what you do out there that counts and we've not been able to stand up to what Australia have thrown at us.”

England's Ashes dreams were snuffed out as they succumbed to an 82-run defeat in Adelaide, but not before an injury to Nathan Lyon gave them hope of pulling off a miracle.

Australia followed emphatic wins at Perth and Brisbane with an unexpectedly nervy fifth-day success in the third Test, ringing up an unassailable 3-0 lead after just 11 days of cricket.