The series hangs in the balance and, in all likelihood, lanes with it. But for Brendon McCullum the latter is not relevant. The England head coach has instead backed an unchanged top seven to fight back in the third Ashes Test and reverse a narrative that has already seen talk of a whitewash bubble.
At 2-0 behind with three to play, all room for maneuver has disappeared for England. But rumors that Ollie Pope could be dropped, or even that Ben Stokes would move to No.3, were shot down by McCullum as his players resumed training on Sunday afternoon. The message was no going back now.
“I wouldn’t have thought that,” replied McCullum when asked whether a batting line-up averaging 22 to Australia’s 37 needed a refresh when the third Test got underway at Adelaide Oval on Wednesday.
“These circumstances [in Adelaide] should also suit the style of hitters we have. We know we haven’t made enough runs in this series so far. We’ve been in positions where we could have done that and made some mistakes.
“But it’s not about throwing away what has been successful for us in recent years. It’s about having more conviction. Vulnerable responses or chopping and changing set batting line-ups isn’t really our way.”
Asked whether a drop to 3-0 could cost him his job – with two years left on his contract and a likely seven-figure fee for the England and Wales Cricket Board – McCullum said: “It doesn’t really bother me, to be honest.
“But I certainly don’t coach to protect the track. I coach to get the best out of people. I am confident that if we play our best cricket, we will have a huge chance in this Test match. If we do that, the narrative will change and the momentum of the series will change. But it is all in front of us to achieve.”
Pope looked most vulnerable after the eight-wicket defeat at the Gabba, but only Joe Root, who made a century, is averaging above 30 so far. The only changes to the England XI appear to be in the bowling attack, which flew out of Perth’s traps but has been hugely ill-disciplined since.
Josh Tongue is being prepared for his first appearance since the English summer. One of Gus Atkinson, three wickets on 78, or Brydon Carse, nine on 26 but at more than five runs per over, could be out. Just taking 20 wickets, three Tests on the bounce, will regain the urn.
McCullum said: “Everyone knows what [Tongue] brings: high pace, hits the wicket hard from a longer length, and he can swing the ball and swing it backwards and swing the ball backwards. If that’s what we think will be most successful, then he’ll get a run.
One of the men McCullum is backing is Jofra Archer, not least because of the (mainly Australian) criticism that followed his fiery late stint in Brisbane when the game was effectively lost.
As has been the case for much of his stop-start Test career, Archer’s speeds remain a talking point even if the data shows his drop-off during a match is no different to others.
“If you were bowling at 75mph in that last innings, the story would be very different,” McCullum said. ‘ asked the skipper [the players] not to sulk, not to feel sorry for oneself. “We’ve been beaten in this match, but with 60 runs we have a chance to fire some bullets.”
“Jofra has a very good ability to go through the gears. Because he has an easy action, I think it can often be misinterpreted as bowling within himself. Sometimes you have to bowl within yourself to be a little more accurate and give yourself the best chance of hitting someone.”
If, as seems to be the case, the side structure remains the same, then the spinner is another spot up for grabs. Will Jacks is the incumbent from Brisbane, but Shoaib Bashir has been backed for two years with, you would think, this specific location in mind. Neither will frighten Australia.
“It’s not about fighting the war that has been. It’s about focusing on the war that is to come,” McCullum added, without committing in any way.
McCullum added: “[The trip was intended] to dissect what had been, but not be too tied to it, and then plan and plan our way back into the series in a relaxed environment. You can’t walk away and start pointing fingers.
“How do you stay cohesive as a group? And what do you have to do to be successful in the circumstances and situation you’re dealing with? Do that and you give yourself a chance. If you don’t do that, 2-0 can become 5-0 very quickly – and that hasn’t worked for anyone.”
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