England have just three days of practice before their must-win third Ashes Test against Australia in Adelaide next week.
England’s hopes of a successful Ashes away from home since 2010/11 are in serious jeopardy after heavy defeats in the first two Tests. The tourists were beaten in two days in Perth and lost by eight wickets in the day-night Test in Brisbane.
Ben Stokes’ preparations for his team came under intense scrutiny as he only played a two-day match against the England Lions before the first Test and left out his entire starting XI for a pink-ball match against the Prime Minister’s eleven before the second Test.
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Captain Ben Stokes insists England have not given up hope of winning the Ashes, but admits England could not withstand the pressure from Australia.
England carried out additional training in Brisbane during the long break between Tests, with a five-day practice session, including one optional one, scheduled before the final defeat at the Gabba.
Head coach Brendon McCullum suggested after England’s defeat that the team had “over-trained” in this period, playing five consecutive sessions, two more than usual, but added that he felt they had “over-prepared”.
McCullum’s comments were criticized by several experts and former players, but he confirmed to Sky Sports that England will have six days without playing any cricket before resuming preparations for the third Test.
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Andrew Strauss and Nasser Hussain question England’s Ashes preparations on Sky Sports Cricket podcast
The team and support staff traveled to Noosa in Queensland for a pre-planned holiday on Tuesday afternoon, with arrangements made before the series and no cricket training will take place, but they are scheduled to fly to Adelaide on Saturday.
England will then train on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday before the third Test is scheduled to begin on Wednesday (Tuesday 11:30pm UK time), with anything other than a win leaving Australia with two games to play to retain the Ashes.
Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes hope to lead England to Ashes fightback
No Test team since Australia in 1936-37 has come back from two defeats to win five in a row, but England have lost 15 of their 17 away Ashes Tests and drawn two since they held Down Under in 2010-11.
“This is a huge series that has been building for a long time. We still have an opportunity to achieve what we came here for,” Stokes told reporters on Sunday.
“If you lose hope, it might be better not to come. I haven’t lost hope, the locker room hasn’t lost hope. I’m going to do everything I can as captain to keep everyone as positive as possible.”
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England captain Ben Stokes said before the series he was “desperate” to become Australia’s Ashes-winning captain
McCullum: England can’t show ‘glass jaws’ to Australia
England also fought back from a position similar to the one they currently face after losing the first two Tests of the 2023 home series, drawing the rain-affected third Test at Old Trafford, and then winning the final two to level the series.
Stokes says there is no room for “weak men” on England’s struggling Ashes tour, while McCullum is desperate for his tour guests to fight to keep their series hopes alive.
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Sky Sports’ Stuart Broad was left stunned when Mitchell Starc took the wicket of Joe Root during England’s defeat in the first Test
“If things don’t go well, you don’t have to feel sorry for yourself. You have to get back up and move on again,” McCallum says.
“When you come to this country and you have a glass jaw, you don’t stand a chance. You have to be strong, you have to be tough, and you have to get through it. At the end of the day, you can’t afford to flinch when you come here.”
“This is not a country where you start doubting yourself or run away from challenges. You can’t have self-pity in this game. I won’t have self-pity.”
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Ricky Ponting and Stuart Broad put their heads together to pick the best Ashes eleven of all time, combining England and Australian players.
Fabres: England stick to their guns in Noosa break
Former England assistant coach Paul Favres said he had no problem with players and staff’s pre-planned trip to Noosa ahead of the third Ashes Test, as long as the players were in the right mindset.
Farbraith believes that, rather than an increased training schedule or more match practice, is what will ultimately make the difference in the “must win” game in Adelaide.
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Former England assistant coach Paul Favres talks about changes England may make ahead of the third Ashes Test
“This England team is not swayed by journalists or the media in terms of who should play, who shouldn’t play, what training should look like,” Farbraith told Sky Sports News. “And that’s why they stick to their guns.
“They didn’t change their plan between the first and second Test, and they’re not going to change their plan for the second and third Test either. They’re going to take a few days off, rest and recover.”
“To be honest, I don’t really care what they do if it’s the right thing to do to be away for a few days and it instills the right mindset in the players.
“As far as getting to Adelaide, the team will be mentally prepared for the challenges that are in front of them, because you can’t change too much in technique or tactics, it just comes down to it.”
“Are you ready for the onslaught of this Australian team? If they’re ready, England have a chance to win the game. But if they’re not in the right mindset, they could be blown away quickly.”
Ashes Series in Australia 2025-26
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