Adelaide, Dec. 21 -- Former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen has criticised the Ben Stokes-led side after their 82-run loss in the third Test at Adelaide Oval on Sunday, and Australia retaining the Ashes after taking an unbeaten 3-0 lead in the ongoing five-match Test series.

Pietersen took on to his X handle, and said that this defeat is tough to understand because Australia were without Josh Hazlewood and Steve Smith. "No Hazlewood, hardly any Cummins, Smith, Lyon, etc, makes this defeat tough to understand."

"Seen more dismissals this morning that tell me all I need to know about an earlier tweet I wrote, saying that batters are not tuned into Test Cricket anymore," Pietersen wrote.

Coming to the match, Australia won the toss and o...