England will limp home from Australia after a humbling 4-1 Ashes defeat but appear likely to stick with the regime of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, who have vowed to learn lessons from a painful tour.

England's white-ball captain Harry Brook issued an apology on Thursday saying he was "deeply sorry" for an altercation at a New Zealand nightclub ahead of the Ashes.

When Australia’s Travis Head gets going, regardless of the format, it is almost impossible to take the spotlight away from him -- and day three of the Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Tuesday was no different.

England's Joe Root paused as he left the field to salute all four corners of the Sydney Cricket Ground on Monday after making a fine 160 in the fifth Ashes test, but the 35-year-old does not want to consider if this is his final bow in Australia.

Australia skipper Steve Smith said Saturday he had no end date to call time on his career, while keeping England guessing on how his team will line up for the fifth and final Ashes Test.

Ben Stokes has urged England chiefs to keep faith with "Bazball" architect Brendon McCullum despite a stinging Ashes defeat in Australia.

Australian skipper Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon were Tuesday ruled out of the fourth Ashes Test against England with the veteran spinner facing surgery and an extended period on the sidelines.

England coach Brendon McCullum wants to stay in his job despite a chastening Ashes series defeat but admits his future is out of his hands.

Australia won the first two Tests by eight wickets in Perth and Brisbane.

Travis Head slammed 170 and Alex Carey hit 72 Saturday as Australia were all out for 249 to set England a record 435 to win and keep the Ashes alive.

Batting coach Marcus Trescothick said England would keep "fighting and scrapping" as the Ashes slipped from their grip Thursday, while paying tribute to a dehydrated Ben Stokes.

The operator of the Snicko technology being used in the Ashes has admitted an error led to a reprieve for Australia's Alex Carey on the first day of the third Test in Adelaide on Wednesday.

An emotional Alex Carey called his 106 on home soil in front of family and friends in the third Ashes Test a "special moment" Wednesday, with the century coming just months after his father died.

Captain Ben Stokes has demanded England "show a bit of dog" in the must-win third Ashes Test against Australia on Wednesday after "raw" conversations following heavy defeats in Perth and Brisbane.

Fit-again opener Usman Khawaja was overlooked for the third Ashes Test in Adelaide on Wednesday as Australia skipper Pat Cummins and veteran Nathan Lyon were named to make their return.

Cummins is the only addition to an otherwise unchanged squad from Brisbane, where Australia won by eight wickets to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

"Really flat for him. A couple of setbacks that we didn't see coming," McDonald said.

England cricket coach Brendon McCullum responded to criticism his side were under-prepared for the Ashes by claiming they "trained too much" prior to a dismal eight-wicket defeat on Sunday to fall 2-0 down to Australia.

The story of England’s tour so far has been one of flashes -- brief moments of belief, quickly swallowed by pressure.

Pumped-up Australia captain Steve Smith and England fast bowler Jofra Archer had a fiery verbal clash near the climax of the second Ashes Test on Sunday at the Gabba.