England will have only three days of practice before their must-win third Ashes Test against Australia next week in Adelaide.
Hopes of a first England away Ashes success since 2010/11 are in serious doubt after heavy defeats in the first two Tests, with the tourists thrashed inside two days in Perth before falling to an eight-wicket loss during the day-night Test in Brisbane.
The preparation of Ben Stokes’ side came under heavy scrutiny after they only played a two-day game against the England Lions ahead of the first Test, before leaving out all their starting XI for a pink-ball match against a Prime Minister’s XI before the second Test.
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Captain Ben Stokes insists England have not given up hope of winning The Ashes – but admits his side have not been able to stand up to the pressure Australia have applied on them
England underwent additional training in Brisbane during the extended break between Tests, with five days of practice sessions – including one optional – scheduled before their latest loss at the Gabba.
Head coach Brendon McCullum suggested after England’s defeat they had ‘trained too much’ during that period, with five consecutive sessions two more than usual, adding he felt they had ‘over-prepared’.
McCullum’s comments were criticised by several pundits and former players, while it has been confirmed to Sky Sports that England will now have six days without any form of cricket before they resume preparations for the third Test.
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Speaking on the Sky Sports Cricket podcast, Andrew Strauss and Nasser Hussain questioned England’s Ashes preparation
The team and support staff are travelling to Noosa in Queensland for a pre-planned break on Tuesday afternoon, arranged before the series and where no cricket training will take place, before flying to Adelaide on Saturday.
England are then scheduled to train on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday before the third Test begins on Wednesday (11.30pm Tuesday, UK time), where anything other than a victory will see Australia retain the Ashes with two matches to spare.
Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes are hoping to lead England to an Ashes fightback
No Test team since Australia in 1936-37 have come back from two down to win a five-match series, while England have now lost 15 and drawn two of their last 17 away Ashes Tests since retaining the urn Down Under in 2010-11.
“It’s a huge series that’s been built up for a long, long time; we still have the opportunity to do what we came out here to do,” Stokes told reporters on Sunday.
“If we lose hope we might as well not turn up. I haven’t lost hope, that dressing room hasn’t lost hope and I’ll be doing everything I can as a captain to ensure that everyone is as positive as they possibly can be.”
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England captain Ben Stokes said ahead of the series he was ‘desperate’ to be an Ashes-winning captain in Australia
McCullum: England cannot show Australia a “glass jaw”
England also lost the first two Tests of the 2023 home series before fighting back from a similar position to the one faced now, as they drew a rain-affected third Test at Old Trafford before winning the last two to level the series.
Stokes said there was no room for “weak men” on England’s faltering Ashes tour, while McCullum is desperate for the tourists to come out fighting to trying keep their series hopes alive.
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Sky Sports’ Stuart Broad was left stunned as Mitchell Starc took Joe Root’s wicket during England’s defeat in the first Test
“You don’t get to feel sorry for yourself if things don’t work out. You have to get up and go again,” McCullum said.
“You come to this country and have a glass jaw, you have no chance. You have to be strong, tough, and you have to get on with it. Ultimately, you can’t afford to flinch when you come down here.
“This is not a country to start doubting yourself or to walk away from the challenge. You don’t get to feel sorry for yourself in this game. I don’t do feeling sorry for yourself.”
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Ricky Ponting and Stuart Broad put their heads together to select an all-time combined Ashes XI from England and Australia players
Ashes series in Australia 2025-26
All times UK and Ireland
