The stakes are high for England as they head into the third Ashes Test, with the series on the line and potentially, jobs hanging in the balance. However, for head coach Brendon McCullum, the focus remains on the task at hand, rather than speculation about his own future or that of his players. In a show of faith, McCullum has backed an unchanged top seven to deliver a much-needed fightback in Adelaide, despite the team's struggles with the bat so far in the series.
McCullum's Message: No Kneejerk Reactions
When questioned about the possibility of changes to the batting lineup, McCullum was adamant that he wouldn't be making any drastic decisions. "I wouldn't have thought so," he replied, when asked if the team needed to freshen up their batting lineup. "These conditions [in Adelaide] should suit the style of batters that we've got as well. We know we haven't got enough runs so far in this series. We've been in positions where we could have and made some mistakes." McCullum emphasized the importance of conviction and sticking to a plan, rather than making kneejerk reactions or chopping and changing a settled batting lineup.
It's not about throwing out what has been successful for us over the last few years. It's about having more conviction. Kneejerk reactions or chopping and changing settled batting lineups is not really our way.
No Fear of the Axe for McCullum
As for his own job security, McCullum seemed unfazed by the prospect of a 3-0 deficit and the potential consequences that could follow. "It doesn't really bother me, to be honest," he said. "But I certainly don't coach to protect the job. I coach to get the best out of people. I firmly believe that if we play our best cricket, we are a massive chance in this Test match. If we do that, then the narrative changes and the series momentum changes. But it's all in front of us to achieve."
Changes on the Horizon for England's Bowling Attack
While the batting lineup may remain unchanged, there are likely to be some tweaks to the bowling attack. Josh Tongue is being primed to make his first appearance since the English summer, and could potentially replace one of Gus Atkinson or Brydon Carse. "Everyone knows what [Tongue] brings: high pace, hits the wicket hard from a fuller length, and he can swing and reverse swing the ball," McCullum said. The England coach also threw his support behind Jofra Archer, who has faced criticism for his speeds and performance in the series so far.
The Spinner Conundrum
Another area of contention for England is the spinner's spot, with Will Jacks and Shoaib Bashir both in the mix. While neither player is likely to strike fear into the hearts of the Australian batsmen, McCullum is focused on the task at hand, rather than worrying about the past. "It's not about fighting the wars that's been," he said. "It's focusing on the one that's coming." With the series on the line, England will need to produce a significant improvement if they are to get back into the series and avoid a potentially embarrassing whitewash.
As the team prepares to take on Australia in Adelaide, the pressure is mounting, but McCullum remains confident in his players and his approach. With a bit of conviction and a lot of hard work, England may yet be able to turn the series around and prove their doubters wrong. Only time will tell if McCullum's faith in his team is justified, but one thing is certain - the next few days will be crucial in determining the fate of the Ashes.
Original: The Guardian
Image: The Guardian
Written by Npsports
