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England stand firm on batting order ahead of must-win Ashes clash
England head coach Brendon McCullum has dismissed suggestions of altering the team's top seven for the pivotal third Ashes Test against Australia, which begins in Adelaide on Wednesday.
Series on the brink
Trailing 2-0 after defeats in the first two Tests, England must secure victory at the Adelaide Oval to keep their Ashes hopes alive. McCullum confirmed the team is unlikely to drop either Ollie Pope or wicketkeeper Jamie Smith, despite their struggles in the series so far.
"I would have thought so," McCullum said when asked if the usual top seven would take the field. "We've made mistakes, but to win this series, we need more conviction-not knee-jerk changes to a settled line-up."
Bowling options under review
With the batting order set, England may instead tweak their bowling attack. Spinner Shoaib Bashir and seamer Josh Tongue remain in contention, with conditions in Adelaide-including forecasted high temperatures-potentially favoring Bashir's inclusion.
Captain Ben Stokes had previously labeled Bashir as England's first-choice spinner, though the 22-year-old has struggled in tour matches, taking 2-266. All-rounder Will Jacks was preferred in Brisbane, but McCullum hinted at a possible shift.
"We'll assess the conditions and pick the best combination," McCullum told BBC Sport. "With a 16-man squad, we'll need to use most of them across five Tests."
Job security not a concern for McCullum
Speculation about McCullum's future has swirled amid England's poor start to the series, but the coach dismissed such talk. "It doesn't bother me," he said. "I don't coach to protect my job-I coach to get the best out of the players."
Both McCullum and Stokes are contracted until the 2027 home Ashes, but a third consecutive defeat in Adelaide would intensify scrutiny on the leadership group, including director of cricket Rob Key.
"If we play our best cricket, we're a massive chance. That's the narrative we control."
Brendon McCullum
Preparation under scrutiny
England's build-up to the second Test drew criticism after McCullum admitted the team was "overprepared" following five days of intense training in Brisbane. On Sunday, he defended the approach, framing it as a way to shield players from pressure.
"There's no perfect preparation," he said. "Five days of intense work isn't ideal, but we'll adjust over the next three days to ensure we're mentally and technically ready."
The team returned to training on Sunday after a break in Noosa, where their off-field activities have faced scrutiny. McCullum rejected suggestions of a "casual" approach, emphasizing the team's high-intensity ethos.
"The idea that we operate casually couldn't be further from the truth. The intensity we bring is all-encompassing."
Brendon McCullum
What's next
The third Test begins at 23:30 GMT on Tuesday (10:00 local time on Wednesday). England's selection decisions, particularly in the bowling department, will be finalized after assessing the pitch and weather conditions.
