England's Ashes Struggles Highlight Questions Over Bazball Approach and Preparation
England currently trail 2-0 in the 2025-26 Ashes after the Gabba day-night Test. Brendon McCullum, England's head coach, acknowledged that the team trained 'too hard' before the match, a statement that could become a lasting epitaph if results do not improve and casts fresh scrutiny over the Bazball approach.
Australia is described as having superior fundamentals, and their preparation contrasted with England's; Australia trained for three days leading up to the Gabba Test, accounting for pink-ball and local conditions, while England reportedly trained for five. Pre-series state warm-up games were not possible, with Canberra unavailable due to scheduling conflicts, including renovations and overlapping with the Women's Big Bash League and Sheffield Shield fixtures.
The article cautions against dismissing domestic red-ball cricket as irrelevant to international readiness, citing Jacob Bethell's wasted summer as part of the wider debate.
England's issues include poor shot selection and a perceived leadership gap in their bowling attack. Mitchell Starc is highlighted as a model of discipline and effectiveness for England to consider. Veterans Ben Stokes and Joe Root are acknowledged for their adaptability, while wicketkeeper-batsman Jamie Smith has been targeted by opponents. Australia's Alex Carey delivered a standout performance in the series.
Looking ahead to possible changes for the Adelaide Test, options include retaining Smith or moving Ollie Pope to No 3 while taking on wicketkeeping duties. The selectors might also consider batting options like Bethell or Will Jacks to strengthen the top seven, alongside introducing spin bowler Shoaib Bashir to permit five seamers and alleviate Stokes' bowling workload.
