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"Sitting here 3-0, it didn't work": McCullum takes blame for Ashes preparation errors

Akshita Patel

England coach opens up after Ashes loss in Australia [Source: @TeleCricket/X.com]England coach opens up after Ashes loss in Australia [Source: @TeleCricket/X.com]

England’s Ashes campaign in Australia came to a disappointing end in Adelaide as they lost by 82 runs. For the first time since taking charge, head coach Brendon McCullum openly admitted mistakes in preparation and planning. 

After Australia sealed an 82-run win in the third Test to retain the Ashes 3-0, McCullum accepted that England’s approach had not worked.

Brendon McCullum holds his hand up as England lose the Ashes

Speaking to the BBC, head coach Brendon McCullum said England had failed to get everything right before and during the series. 

The admission marked a clear shift in tone from England’s leadership, which has usually defended its methods strongly, even during defeats.

"I have been very strong about the conviction we had and our preparation and, you know, for us, it was a matter of trying to replicate what we have done in series that have been successful for us away from home. Maybe we didn't get that right and I'll acknowledge that," McCullum said.

England were outplayed heavily in the first two Tests and showed fight only in patches in Adelaide. Much of the criticism has centred on their preparation. 

England chose to play just one warm-up match, against an England Lions development side, before the Ashes. 

This followed a similar approach used on previous overseas tours under McCullum and captain Ben Stokes, where the team preferred training sessions over practice matches. 

But this time, the approach failed, and McCullum explained that England tried to repeat methods that had worked in the past and admitted that this time it failed. 

"Ultimately you are responsible for how you get your side ready and how you prepare them. We are 3-0 down so you would probably say there was room for change there. Again, you put your hand up as a coach and say you might not have got that right. At the same time I felt it would give us our best chance because it has previously. Sitting here 3-0, it didn't work," he added.

McCullum recalls a pink-ball plan that backfired

After losing the opening Test in Perth inside two days, England made another bold call. They decided not to send their main players to Canberra for a pink-ball practice match ahead of the day-night second Test. 

Instead, the squad stayed in Brisbane and focused on intense net sessions. Looking back, Brendon McCullum felt that decision may have backfired.

"The five intense training days leading into Brisbane when we knew it was going to be hot. A few things you look at retrospectively. Your job as a coach is to try get performance on the field. I was confident we had it right but obviously we didn't."

With the Ashes already lost, questions are now being asked about the future of Brendon McCullum, captain Ben Stokes, and managing director Rob Key. Their ‘Bazball’ style has flopped massively, and hence their future is hanging in the air.