Brendon McCullum has accepted responsibility for not preparing for the Ashes immediately after England lost the third Test just 11 days into cricket, resulting in a series loss to Australia.
Following eight-wicket wins in Perth and Brisbane, Australia retained the Ashes with an 82-run victory over England in Adelaide on Sunday, tying the shortest period in the past 100 years for a historic match to be decided.
England’s touring schedule included just one warm-up game against their own England Lions development team, which raised concerns before the series, and the defeat in the first Test in Perth less than two days later brought further scrutiny.
Coach McCullum then said the team had over-held training sessions and “over-prepared” for the second Test after the defeat in Brisbane, infuriating some England fans and media.
Speaking to TNT Sports after the third Test, McCullum reflected on where England went wrong and brought up the topic of preparation.
“I know that’s going to be questioned,” he said. “And when you lose 3-0, you have to put your hand up and say, ‘Maybe I wasn’t ready.’
“And it’s not just about leading in Game 1, it’s, ‘Could we have led more in Game 1, could we have led more in Game 2?’
“You’re trying to figure those things out, and ultimately you’re responsible for that. Even if you’re down 3-0, you throw your hands up and say, ‘I didn’t get it right.’
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Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain reflect on the fifth day of the Ashes, which ended with Australia winning by 82 points and England.
“High expectations bound us.”
The series started with most expecting a close battle between the two teams, who drew 2-2 against England in 2023, but it quickly turned one-sided.
Few of the players under McCullum and captain Ben Stokes have been close to their best in the opening three games.
McCullum explained that he believed England’s determination to perform well and their high expectations were actually “constraining” their ability to ultimately succeed.
Captain Ben Stokes was dejected by his team’s series loss.
Asked if the intensity and scrutiny of the Ashes series in Australia had caught the team’s attention, he said: “No, I don’t think I was surprised.
“I think we expected it, but I think there are ways to deal with it, there are ways to try to stop it, and there are ways to just lean into it and embrace it and consider it a privilege to be in a position where you can put in the effort and entertain and get attention and make people proud.”
“And I think we were determined to do that. We had such high expectations and hopes for this series that we were almost at our limit, and it just constrained us a little bit. So we just couldn’t deal with it.”
Some of England’s best cricketers featured in the second half of the third Test, with wicketkeeper Jamie Smith smashing a counter-attacking 60 on the final day, at one point raising hopes of a record.
McCullum added: “I feel like the last day and a half, two days have probably been our best cricket and that’s because we just played.”
“For nine days like before, I feel like we were so pushed to achieve something and be successful that we almost got in our way and got in the way of our own talents and skills and abilities.
“The only time I actually played and probably had the best two days of the tour was the last two days where I let my guard down and played, so there’s a lesson there.
Mitchell Starc celebrates taking Jamie Smith’s wicket on the final day
“There is a lesson not only for the players, but also for the coaches and coaching staff: how do you release players when the pressure is the most, without waiting until the last two days?”
Ashes Series in Australia 2025-26
Australia leads series 5 games 3-0
