Brendon McCullum didn’t dodge the hard questions once the Ashes were gone.
After England slid to a 3–0 deficit in just 11 days of cricket, the head coach admitted the uncomfortable truth: the preparation simply wasn’t right.
The series was officially lost on the final afternoon in Adelaide, where England chased bravely but fell short, bowled out for 352 while pursuing an intimidating 435.
A Fighting Finish That Changed Nothing
There was no shortage of heart in Adelaide. England pushed Australia harder than they had all series, refusing to roll over quietly.
But courage alone doesn’t rewrite scorelines.
Three Tests, three defeats, and the Ashes already decided with two matches still to play.
McCullum acknowledged that, at this level, effort without results leaves little room for excuses.
Looking Back With Regret on the Build-Up
McCullum was candid about his own role in how things unfolded.
As coach, he accepts full responsibility for how the side was readied, both before the first Test and during the gaps between matches.
With hindsight, he questioned whether England needed more time to prepare ahead of the opener in Perth — and possibly less between the early Tests.
He admitted those are the moments coaches replay endlessly: what to change, what to scrap, what to repeat.
Sitting at 3–0 down, he conceded the approach hadn’t worked, and that’s something he was prepared to own publicly.
A Preparation That Never Matched Australian Conditions
England’s road to Perth raised eyebrows even at the time.
Instead of acclimatising to Australian heat and bounce, they toured New Zealand for white-ball games played in cool spring weather on green, seam-friendly pitches.
The contrast with Western Australia could hardly have been sharper.
Once in Perth, things didn’t improve. A three-day warm-up against the England Lions — effectively a second XI — offered little resistance.
England were bowled out cheaply twice, losing inside two days at Perth Stadium, a worrying rehearsal that soon proved ominous.
Too Much Work, Not Enough Progress
If the first Test preparation looked light, the lead-up to the pink-ball clash swung the other way.
McCullum later revealed England may have overdone it before Brisbane, squeezing in five practice sessions.
The result? Another heavy defeat, this time by eight wickets, and a growing sense that the balance was off in both directions.
Where It All Went Wrong on the Field
McCullum didn’t hide behind conditions or scheduling.
He pointed to clear shortcomings across all three disciplines.
With the ball, England lacked the relentless accuracy needed to exploit Australian surfaces.
With the bat, runs came too slowly or not at all, and the tempo never quite settled.
In the field, chances were created — and then spilled — moments that can swing Tests but instead drifted away.
Pride, Purpose, and Two Tests Still to Play
Despite the bruising nature of the tour, McCullum insisted it isn’t over.
There are still two Tests to come, and with them a chance to take something meaningful from a painful campaign.
His message to the squad was simple: salvage pride, fight for the travelling supporters in Australia, and repay those watching back home in England.
What’s Next?
England can’t win the Ashes now, but they can still shape how this tour is remembered.
The final two Tests offer a chance to restore belief, test character, and prove that lessons — even harsh ones — have been learned.
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