England were ‘over-prepared’ before Ashes thrashing at Gabba, says McCullum

3 months ago 24

England coach Brendon McCullum believes his side was “over-prepared” ahead of its second thumping in as many Tests as captain Ben Stokes conceded the tourists can’t handle Ashes pressure ahead of the team’s scheduled break to Noosa this week.

Steve Smith smashed a six into the leg side after sledging England quick Jofra Archer for only bowling quick when the second Test was all but over to deliver Australia a commanding 2-0 series lead with three matches remaining.

After being thrashed inside two days in Perth, England showed some extra fight with the bat on day four at the Gabba but slumped to another eight-wicket defeat to leave their hopes of regaining the urn in disarray.

Following the first Test, England chose not to send their best batsmen to Canberra for a pink ball day-night fixture against an Australian Prime Minister’s XI side. Instead, the team played golf and opted for more training in Brisbane.

“I felt like we over-prepared to be honest,” McCullum said on Channel Seven.

“We had five intense training days. I think sometimes when you’re in the heat of the battle … sometimes the most important thing is to feel a little bit fresh and make sure your top two inches is completely sound.

“I think the boys just need a few days off and probably need to change up a few of the training methods. I’m a horse racing man and you wouldn’t just keep doing the same things with your horse. You’d send it around in figure eights over the little jumps to switch it up.

Brendon McCullum with Channel Seven commentator and former England player Stuart Broad.

“We’ve got a couple of days in Noosa so we can spend some time together more casually and let the dust settle on what has been a pretty intense couple of weeks and start to plot and plan our way back into the series.

“The message from the captain and myself is you can’t come to this country and start sulking and feeling sorry for yourself when things haven’t worked out. You can’t have a glass jaw when you tour Australia. You’ve got to stand up and go again.”

Stokes echoed his coach’s assessment, admitting England may have slipped into overtraining after the heavy defeat in Perth.

“On the back of the first Test match, when you desperately want something like we do, maybe you can fall into that [overtraining],” Stokes told reporters.

England captain Ben Stokes’ patience has got to be wearing thin.

“If we lose hope, then we might [as well] not turn up. I haven’t lost hope and that dressing room hasn’t lost hope.”

The numbers tell a grim story: England have now lost 15 of their past 17 Tests in Australia. Stokes accepted his players have repeatedly faltered in tight moments.

“When the game is on the line, teams are able to handle the pressure better than us,” Stokes said on TNT Sports. “We’re a great team when we’re ahead, and when we’re behind and we need to catch up, we’re great. But when the game is on the line, we’re not able to stand up to the pressure of what this is. It’s something that, for me as a captain, is starting to become quite obvious.

“A huge part of the problem was that we had to take 15 wickets in the first innings. You can’t drop catches. Nobody means to do it but they always come back to bite you. Those things can’t happen at this level.

Steve Smith and Ben Stokes shake hands at the end of the second Ashes Test at the Gabba.

“I’ll never be frustrated or angry at my team for trying too hard because that’s what I ask them to do.”

Asked what the path forward was, Stokes said: “Don’t panic. Don’t flap. Don’t waver. Have complete belief in our guys as a team. I know we can do this.

“If I could put my finger on [why England have played so poorly], I’d be able to tell you. It’s definitely not a skill thing.”

The England squad will travel to Noosa for at least four days of relaxation before heading to Adelaide on Saturday, ahead of the third Test starting December 17.

The optics of going on a break to a popular tourist destination after two poor performances is likely to raise eyebrows.

“Look, we’ve been here four weeks, and it’s been pretty full on,” Stokes said after being asked about the Noosa trip. “As physical as this game is, a huge part of it is the mental side of it. I know that. I’ve experienced that. I know what the game can do to you when things aren’t quite feeling right or going well.”

Meanwhile, Smith was asked whether he believed England had failed to cope with the big moments.

“That’s really tricky for me to answer,” Smith said. “I’m not sure how their dressing room is going to respond. We’ve put them into a position where we’re happy, obviously, being 2-0 up.

“They’re going to come back hard, whether they come back and play really aggressive or take the foot off the pedal a little bit and try and prolong the game a bit.”