Brendon McCullum says England got their Ashes preparations wrong but believes they can salvage pride in the final two Tests in Melbourne and Sydney
ENGLAND coach Brendon McCullum has conceded his team got their preparations wrong heading into the Ashes series in Australia.
McCullum believes the tourists can still salvage some pride in the final two Tests in Melbourne and Sydney.
England arrived bullish about winning a series in Australia for the first time since 2010-11.
Those hopes imploded with heavy defeats in Perth and Brisbane before a closer 82-run loss in Adelaide.
The ultra-aggressive “Bazball” style pioneered by McCullum and captain Ben Stokes is now in tatters.
England’s Ashes demise in just 11 days was the joint-second quickest in over a century.
The team had just one warm-up fixture in Australia, against their own second-tier Lions side.
They then lost the opening Test in Perth inside two days, drawing criticism from former captains.
The team skipped a pink-ball practice opportunity before the day-night second Test in Brisbane.
Instead, they spent five days in the nets before losing that match by eight wickets.
McCullum had previously claimed they had “overprepared” for that fixture.
“What did we get right? What did we get wrong? Probably we go back to the preparation, that’ll be something that gets questioned,” McCullum told TNT Sports.
“And when you’ve lost 3-0, you need to put your hand up and say ‘maybe I didn’t get that preparation right’.”
He added it was about both the lead-in to the first game and the second.
“I didn’t get that right because we lost 3-0. Lots to digest, look through and be better next time.”
The fourth Test starts at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on December 26.
England could freshen up the side, with an under-performing Ollie Pope facing the axe.
Youngster Jacob Bethell is waiting in the wings, but options are limited.
McCullum said they would not be looking outside the current squad for replacements.
“We’ll have a look a look at the conditions (in Melbourne) and, as we always do, we’ll try and work out what we think will give us the best chance in that game,” he said.
“If that’s changes, it’s changes. If it’s not, it’s not.”
McCullum admitted England had been outplayed across all three Tests so far.
He said he saw encouraging signs in Adelaide, where they chased a world record 435.
“We do have a great opportunity in the next two Tests,” McCullum stated.
“We need to find something out of this tour, salvage some pride and play for all the people who have come to Australia to support this team and all the people back in England who have supported this team as well.”
He urged his team to immerse themselves in the game and allow their talent to emerge.
