Former bowler Steve Finn does not believe the "monumental accolade" of an away Ashes win is lost on England or that this could be the end of Brendon McCullum's cycle.

England have not won the Ashes in Australia since 2010-11, while they have failed to claim the trophy in any of the last four series, drawing both on home soil.

In fact, since their triumph 14 years ago, England have failed to win a single Test Down Under, losing 13 and drawing two of the subsequent 15 matches they have taken part in.

McCullum recently took over all formats of the squad, resulting in a new contract through to the end of 2027 after the ODI World Cup, after his other was due to end after the Ashes.

It will be McCullum's second time leading England in the Ashes, having drawn the first in 2023, and Finn, who played seven Tests in the competition between 2010 and 2015, expects him to adapt in order to take home the win.

"I certainly think everyone's aware that cycles end in an Ashes series if it ends badly," Finn exclusively told Stats Perform.

"Do I think that's going to happen? I'm not sure, because McCullum's just signed a longer contract to be the white-ball coach, as well as the red-ball coach. Ben Stokes has just signed a two-year central contract, so do I necessarily see that being the case at the end of this series? No.

"But an away Ashes series is a monumental accolade to have on your CV at the end of your career, and I don't think that is lost on this team.

“He was Superman!” ‍

Ben Stokes pulling off an absolute screamer on our way to regaining the Ashes in 2015

Watch more in our Ashes Hub: https://t.co/qw1Q3cyLcg pic.twitter.com/7VQmmyrpZP

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) November 7, 2025

"And actually, there was a slight change in rhetoric in the summer towards England's attitude towards playing cricket. I don't like using the term 'Bazball' because Stokes and McCullum don't like using it, but I think the manner in which they played, they tempered slightly this summer, and I think they benefited from playing situations better, as opposed to just playing one way and in one gear the whole time.

"Being able to shift it up and down those gears is an important element of being good at Test match cricket, and I think Stokes and McCullum both recognised that at the beginning of the 2025 summer. I think that will bode them well going into the Ashes as well, because there will be flashpoints within games where situations will have to be managed.

"A cluster of wickets fall; someone has to stand firm and not just give it away. Or if there's a big partnership, someone has to go back to the well to bowl an important big spell. Those moments won't be lost on this England team, I don't think, and they're aware of that."

Finn was part of the side that triumphed in 2010-11, with England, led by Andrew Strauss, claiming a 3-1 win in the five-match series.

The first Test back then was drawn, but England had struggled in their first innings, posting just 260, but they responded by declaring on 517-1 in the second in a reduced match.

England have had flashes of promise since then, with Stokes' unbeaten 135 at Headingley in 2019 one of their standout moments in recent years.

And Finn thinks England have the right characters in their squad to take the fight to Australia ahead of the first Test in Perth, which begins on November 21.

"I think to succeed in Australia, you have to push back against Australia," Finn added. "And I think with those characters in the team and that leadership group, I think England will push back.

"And when I look back at when we were successful in 2010-11, in that first Test match, our backs were against the wall. We could easily have folded in our second innings.

"Australia win that first Test, and then all of a sudden everyone in the dressing room is thinking, 'Here we go again'. But we had big characters in that moment in [Jonathan] Trott, [Alistair] Cook and Strauss, who stood up and said, 'No, we're not going to let this happen. We're going to fight back'.

"We ended up 517 for 1, and that felt like a win at the end of that first Test, even though it was a draw in the context of the series. It felt for us as though it was a win.

"So, it's in those moments where you need people to stand up and be counted, and that comes right from the very top and the attitude that is instilled throughout the team. And I think Stokes and McCullum are excellent at doing that."