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England's Ashes campaign at crossroads ahead of Adelaide Test
The England cricket team has left its brief respite in Noosa as pressure mounts on their Ashes aspirations. With the series poised at 2-0 in Australia's favor, the tourists must secure victory at Adelaide Oval to keep their urn dreams alive.
Controversial Noosa break draws mixed reactions
England's four-night stay in the Queensland coastal town of Noosa concluded on Saturday, with the squad flying to Adelaide to resume preparations. The break, planned well before the series, remained unchanged despite consecutive Test defeats.
During their stay, players were spotted socializing in local bars, playing golf, and relaxing on beaches. Captain Ben Stokes even posed for a lighthearted photo with Sunshine Coast radio hosts Archie and Bretz, who held signs reading "For sale - moral victories" and "Bazballers anonymous - free counselling."
Australian media outlets seized on the downtime, with headlines ranging from "Surfed and Turfed" (Daily Telegraph) to "rub a dub duds" (Advertiser). The Brisbane Courier Mail went further, suggesting England had "stopped trying altogether."
"The tourism commission will be thrilled. It's been Noosa, Noosa, Noosa. But I don't fault England for taking the break-it's fair and reasonable,"
Jason Gillespie, former Australia fast bowler
Preparation strategy under fire
England's build-up to the series has faced criticism, particularly their decision to skip a pink-ball warm-up match against the Prime Minister's XI in Canberra. Instead, the team opted for five days of training in Brisbane, which head coach Brendon McCullum later described as leaving them "overprepared" for the second Test defeat at the Gabba.
Gillespie questioned the messaging from the England camp: "They had a chance to practice under lights with a pink ball but chose not to, citing Brisbane conditions. Yet before Perth, they played on a slow wicket at Lilac Hill before facing a fast, bouncy pitch at Perth Stadium. The contradictions have left them vulnerable to criticism."
Key decisions loom for England's XI
England's training session on Sunday may reveal lineup changes for the third Test, which begins on Wednesday (23:30 GMT Tuesday). Fast bowler Josh Tongue is tipped to replace Gus Atkinson, while spinner Shoaib Bashir-overlooked in the first two Tests-could return despite limited impact in tour matches.
Batsman Ollie Pope's form is also under scrutiny. With a highest score of 46 in the series and no half-centuries in 14 innings against Australia, his place at number three may be at risk. Jacob Bethell, who scored 71 for the England Lions against Australia A, is a potential replacement.
Australia set to welcome back key players
Despite their 2-0 lead, Australia are expected to make changes. Captain Pat Cummins, sidelined with a back injury, will return alongside spinner Nathan Lyon, likely replacing Brendan Doggett and either Scott Boland or Michael Neser.
Opener Usman Khawaja's fitness remains a question mark after he missed the second Test. Travis Head and Jake Weatherald's partnership has flourished in his absence, but Khawaja's return could see batter Josh Inglis or all-rounder Beau Webster make way.
What's next
McCullum will address the media on Sunday as England's three-day Adelaide training block begins. The third Test marks England's first red-ball Ashes match at the venue since 2013, with the two most recent encounters played as day-night pink-ball fixtures.
