McCullum Backs England Batting Line-up, Warns Against ‘Knee-Jerk Reactions’ Ahead of Third Ashes Test

England are set to retain their existing batting line-up for the third Ashes Test in Adelaide, despite falling 2-0 behind Australia, after head coach Brendon McCullum urged patience and warned against “knee-jerk reactions”.

England’s batting has struggled in the opening two Tests, with totals of 172, 164, 334 and 241, and only Joe Root averaging above 30. Ollie Pope and Jamie Smith have come under scrutiny after failing to make an impact in Brisbane, while Jacob Bethell remains on standby as a reserve batter. However, McCullum said England would stick with the top seven players who have been first choice for the past 18 months.

“I wouldn’t have thought so,” McCullum said in Adelaide when asked about possible changes. “We’ve had a top seven now for a period of time and we’ve been reasonably successful with it. These conditions should suit the style of batters that we’ve got as well.”

McCullum acknowledged England have not scored enough runs but stressed that abandoning a settled line-up would not help their cause. “For us to go on and win this series, it’s not about throwing out what’s been successful over the last few years. It’s about having more conviction, tightening up our disciplines, and having utter belief in what we’re capable of achieving,” he said.

While the batting is expected to remain unchanged, England may adjust their bowling attack. Seamer Josh Tongue is under consideration for his first appearance of the series, and a decision remains over the spinner. Ben Stokes recently described Shoaib Bashir as England’s “number one spinner”, though Will Jacks’ all-round performance in Brisbane could earn him another opportunity.

McCullum admitted England need to “recalibrate” aspects of their game plan but warned that a lack of belief in their attacking approach could see the series slip away quickly. “If you don’t [stay tight as a group], 2-0 can become 5-0 real quick, and that hasn’t worked for anyone,” he said.

The England coach, who signed a contract extension with the ECB until the end of 2027, played down speculation about his future should the series end in a whitewash. “It doesn’t really bother me,” he said. “I don’t coach to protect the job; I coach to get the best out of people.”

England arrived in Adelaide on Saturday following a mid-series break in Noosa, which McCullum said was planned well in advance to help players reset. The trip was overshadowed by a minor altercation involving a member of England’s security staff and a television cameraman at Brisbane Airport, highlighting the intense scrutiny surrounding the tour.

Despite criticism over comments that England may have “over-prepared” for the second Test, McCullum believes the break has left the squad refreshed. “Noosa was excellent,” he said. “It gave us a chance to let the lessons settle, recalibrate a little, and spend time together. Now the boys are excited to get back to training and prepare for this Test.”

England begin the third Test in Adelaide knowing victory is crucial to revive their Ashes campaign and shift the momentum in a tightly scrutinised series.