Adelaide, 14 December 2025
Brendon McCullum said England’s response after defeat mattered as much as the result, warning that the narrative would quickly change if players allowed frustration to affect their intensity.
“If you mope around bowling 75mph in that last innings then the narrative would be very different,” McCullum said. “The skipper asked the players not to feel sorry for themselves. We were outplayed in this game, but with 60-odd runs to defend, we still had the chance to fire some bullets.”
McCullum praised fast bowler Jofra Archer’s ability to adjust his pace and rhythm, saying his smooth action can sometimes be misunderstood.
“Jofra has a great ability to go through the gears,” he said. “Because his action is so easy, it can look like he’s bowling within himself. At times, that’s exactly what you need, to be a bit more accurate and give yourself the best chance of zeroing in on a batter.”
With the team’s overall structure likely to remain unchanged, McCullum acknowledged that the spinner’s role is still under consideration. Will Jacks played in Brisbane, while Shoaib Bashir has been backed over the past two years, seemingly with this venue in mind. Neither option, however, is expected to trouble Australia significantly.
“It’s not about fighting the wars that have been,” McCullum said. “It’s about focusing on the one that’s coming.”
McCullum said the squad used its recent trip to reflect without dwelling on mistakes and to plan a way back into the series.
“The idea was to dissect what had been, but not be too bound by it, then plot and plan our way back in a relaxed setting,” he said. “You can’t just walk away and start pointing fingers.
“How do you stay tight as a group, and what do you need to do to be successful in the conditions you’re facing? If you do that, you give yourself a chance. If you don’t, 2-0 can become 5-0 very quickly and that hasn’t worked for anyone.”
