Despite acknowledging that the team has been “nowhere near” its best, defiant England coach Brendon McCullum dismissed worries on Sunday that his job was in jeopardy going into the third Test match against Australia.
Only a victory at Adelaide Oval this week will be sufficient to salvage the five-match series after the tourists were crushed by eight wickets in the first two Ashes Tests in Perth and Brisbane. Instead of adding Jacob Bethell, McCullum affirmed that they will maintain the same top seven, retaining Ollie Pope, who is currently under pressure, at number three.
“Knee-jerk reactions and chopping and changing settled batting line-ups is not really our way. We know we haven’t got enough runs so far in the series. But for us to go on and win the series it’s not about throwing out what’s been successful for us over the past few years,” he said.
Former greats were skeptical of McCullum’s assertion that England “trained too much” before Brisbane, and their lack of effort and dubious preparations have garnered criticism.
The team’s plan to spend this week relaxing on the beach in the popular playground Noosa before traveling to Adelaide was also rejected. However, McCullum remained unaffected, brushing off rumors that another loss may jeopardize his job as head coach.
“I don’t know, but it doesn’t really bother me, to be honest. I mean professional sport, it’s not easy, right? You do the job to the best of your ability. You have conviction in what you’re doing, and whatever happens, happens,” he said.
McCullum acknowledged that England needed to improve in order to keep the series alive, but he hinted that they wouldn’t alter their enthusiastic strategy.
“We knew when we came here that we had to win three Tests to win the series, and the fact we’re 2-0 down has made it harder on ourselves, but it doesn’t stop the belief that you have within the dressing room,” he said.
“I don’t think we’ve been anywhere near our best so far in these last two Tests … but what’s been has been. Now, it’s focusing on the one that’s coming.
“I firmly believe that if we play our best cricket, we’re a massive chance in this Test match. We do that, and the narrative changes in the series,” he added.
After two crushing losses, McCullum justified his choice to take a beach vacation rather than practice.
“Noosa for us was excellent. It was planned, obviously a year ago,” he said, adding that it was about spending “time away from the heat of the battle”.
“And I think now the freshness which we come into this Test match with will hopefully pay off. There’s no guarantees, but that’s the plan, and I think the boys are excited to get back to training and look forward to the next few days.”
