🔗 Share this article

Beyond Australia's wildest dreams would they have imagined they would be leading two-nil in this historic rivalry after playing only six days of cricket.

The hosts were placed under severe pressure by the tourists during the opener at the WACA, then pulled off an incredible turnaround.

It put them riding a crest of self-belief going into the second Test, where they gave the English side a masterclass in how to play Test cricket, particularly pink-ball matches.

Series on the Brink

The contest is not dead, but it's perilously close. Should England fail to win the third Test, it will get deeply humiliating.

I gained a close look at England's style throughout the 2023 Ashes in the UK. For all of the discussion about this tour being their chance to ultimately secure a series down under, there was considerable scepticism among Australian pundits about the way the English team performs.

Would England's batting be appropriate for Australian conditions? Would they play aggressive strokes and discover methods to get out? Might they collapse when pressure mounted of the big moments?

At present, all of the Australian observers who were sceptical about England are being proved right.

Mindset and Responsibility

There is much I admire about England's attitude. I love it when sportspeople play without fear, because that helps them to extend the limits of potential.

However, I disagree with the idea that pressure or high expectations should be eliminated. Elite performers excel when challenged, and the best teams hold each other are accountable.

"Yes, there were the coaches such as Simpson and Buchanan, however, it was the skipper and senior players who always ran the team environment."

Even when a newcomer, I believed I had permission to voice my opinion. Everyone took responsibility for the squad's performance.

Subsequently, should someone stepped out from the standard, they were held consequences from their teammates. If someone made an error repeatedly - an uncommon occurrence frequently - they were addressed.

The Australian Blueprint

We had some huge personalities - no one more prominent than the great Shane Warne - but we all felt that our actions was for the team and our comrades. Opener Matthew Hayden used to say we pulled together because of the love we shared, so extensive was the amount of time we spent together.

That accountability, responsibility and flexibility collectively manifested when we stepped on to the field as a unit.

Certainly, all of these things prove simpler while a side is winning, a scenario England are currently not experiencing right now.

A Culture in Question

My worry for England was the message of a rigid style yielded a culture that lacks personal responsibility.

It was almost as if England had decided conditions had to adapt to their game, instead of England adapting their strategy to suit the conditions.

Finally, following the result of the defeat in Brisbane, it looks like the penny has dropped.

Captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum acknowledged there are issues, and they need to do something to address them.

I have no problems with the statements the English leadership made publicly after the Brisbane Test. If Stokes and McCullum have been strong in the media, one can be sure they have been even stronger in private meetings.

A New Version?

Might we witness an evolved form of Bazball? Like I said, I like the element of competing without fear. If England can add the elements of pressure and mutual accountability, then they may still be on to something.

For all that England have faced criticism, Australia merits significant credit for their performance.

Had England been informed they would play an Australia team lacking their captain Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon, they would have felt delighted with anticipation.

And yet, Australia pulled off victory at the Gabba with all of their other players standing up.

Key Performers for Australia

Mitchell Starc has been absolutely outstanding, ably assisted by Neser, Scott Boland and Doggett.

Alex Carey delivered an absolute masterclass with the gloves, arguably the finest display of keeping I've ever seen - and I played with Ian Healy and Adam Gilchrist.

Maybe the most significant revelation for Australia is the shift in the batting order.

Before the series, when there seemed to be a lot of discussion about the Australia line-up, I said there was only really one question concerning one position - batter Usman Khawaja's batting partner.

That debate is now resolved, simply not in a way anyone expected.

The New Opening Pair

From the moment Travis Head stuck his hand up to bat as an opener when Khawaja got hurt during the Perth Test, Australia have looked transformed. Now, it appears there is a chance for Head and Jake Weatherald to cement themselves as the opening pair.

Khawaja could face difficulty to get back in, although Australia coach Andrew McDonald has indicated he might feature at number five.

Injuries and the Adelaide Test

Injuries will mean English speedster Mark Wood and Australian seamer Josh Hazlewood being absent for the third Test and the remainder of the series.

That is an unfortunate situation for both athletes. I understand how much hard work it is to bowl fast, the dedication involved in coming back from setbacks, and how desperate both players were to participate fully in this contest. They will be heartbroken.

Adelaide will provide a quality surface, with something in it for batters and bowlers alike. Australia will undoubtedly reinstate spinner Lyon and it seems Cummins will return to captain the side.

Closing Thoughts

Australia will remember how England recovered from a two-nil deficit to level the previous series. They are aware England poses a threat.

This time, they hold England by the throat and must not relent just because key players are coming back. They cannot get complacent.

An Australia team must always believe it is capable of winning each match it contests, so for that reason this squad ought to be aiming for a five-nil whitewash.

England will know they have no choice but to turn things around in Adelaide. If they don't, could indeed lead to a 5-0 series defeat.