England head coach Brendon McCullum admitted that mistakes were made in the team’s preparation after Australia defeated England in the third Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval. With that win, the hosts retained the Ashes by taking an unassailable 3–0 lead in the series on December 21.
Speaking to reporters after the defeat in the third Test, McCullum accepted that England’s preparation had not been sufficient.
“I’m sure there will be plenty of questions asked, and rightfully so,” he said. “We haven’t got everything right, and I haven’t got everything right as a coach either. Ultimately, as head coach, you are responsible for how you get your side ready and prepare them. I had conviction in our methods, not just leading into the first Test but also in between Tests.”
England’s preparation had drawn criticism even before the Adelaide Test began, with many critics highlighting the visitors’ lack of red-ball matches heading into the Ashes.
“I look back now and think, ‘Did we need more leading into the first Test and did we need less leading into the second?’ We lost 3–0, so you would probably say there was room for change there,” McCullum added. “Again, you put your hand up as a coach and say you might not have got that right. I felt it would give us our best chance because it has previously. Sitting here at 3–0, it didn’t work.”
The fourth Test in Melbourne will be played from December 26 at the MCG.
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