Absolute Ashes: McCullum compared to Postecoglou as Gough fumes at head coach’s statement, bold England selection call ahead of third Test

The second Ashes Test in Brisbane at The Gabba is over, and it’s another defeat for England.

The visitors are now 2-0 down in the series with Australia needing one more win from the last three matches to retain The Ashes.

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Again, like the first Test, there were moments when England were ahead of the game.

But they let it slip and painfully lost despite Joe Root scoring his first century in Australia.

Unfortunately, he was let down big time by those around him, and afterwards, Ben Stokes questioned the mentality of some of his team.

They now have another lengthy break until the next Test and there is a lot of self-reflection required, and the reaction has been understandably angry.

Here at talkSPORT.com, this is our latest ‘Absolute Ashes’ column, providing all the latest news, views, analysis and moments you may have missed from Australia.

It’s who we are, mate

Ever since Brendon McCullum became the England head coach, ‘Bazball’ has become synonymous with this side.

They are encouraged to be free and to take on shots and put pressure back on bowlers, but the obsession with playing just one way has seen the New Zealander compared to Ange Postecoglou.

Australian football manager Postecoglou is also known for never changing the way his teams play.

It led to the former Tottenham Hotpsur boss, saying ‘it’s who we are, mate’ when asked in an interview about Spurs’ style of play.

And Steve Harmison couldn’t help but agree with the suggestion that McCullum is Postecoglou.

Speaking on the Sunday Edition, Harmy was asked about the comparison by The Sun’s Shaun Custis.

Custis said: “It’s like Brendon McCullum is the Ange Postecoglou of cricket now. It’s just attack, attack, attack.

“No defence whatsoever, and it’ll come good along the line. Surely, there has to be a bit more science to it?

Harmy responded: “I am pleased you said that, Shaun because I have been wanting to say that for a couple of weeks, and I didn’t really want to disrespect Brendon McCullum by calling him Ange Postecoglou, but I think you are spot on.

“England have got this one way of playing, and it is one way fits all in different conditions.

“They have this way of playing, and they say they run towards danger.

“But you wouldn’t run towards a lion if it was stood in the middle of the road.

“It’s embarrassing.”

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‘My a***’

In the immediate aftermath of their defeat at The Gabba, McCullum declared that England were ‘over prepared’ for this Test.

The head coach, in numerous interviews, stressed that England were ready for the pink-ball Test, which takes place in the day and at night under lights.

But the evidence suggested that wasn’t the case at all.

However, McCullum said: “If anything, I think we trained too much.

“We had five intense training sessions leading into this game, and that is something as a coach, you need to be aware of.”

It’s clear that Ashes legend and talkSPORT contributor Darren Gough didn’t agree.

On X, he posted: “Over prepared my a***.”

That just about sums up how many people feel about those comments.

Baffled

Former England bowler Monty Panesar was confused by Stokes’ tactics.

England had looked to be ready to declare on the eve of day one with the lights on to get the chance to bowl at Australia with the new pink ball.

But with Root and Jofra Archer going along nicely, the decision was made to allow them to keep going to post a first innings score of 334.

However, Monty thinks he should have brought his team in.

Speaking on Weekend Sports Breakfast, he said: “I think Ben Stokes has made a couple of tactical errors.

“He could have declared on the first day to have the chance to bowl in that last session when the ball swings and seams around.

“I am not sure they should have let Joe Root and Jofra Archer continue with that partnership.

“That area could have been a bit better.

“Dropped catches also cost them, especially when Ben Duckett dropped Alex Carey on nought.”

No place for weak men

Stokes’ post-match comments were fascinating as he made it clear he doesn’t want weak mentalities in his dressing room.

There was no particular player named, but it was an overall statement to the team to see if they can try and pull off the impossible and win from 2-0 down.

And Mark Butcher hopes to see England play the situation better in Adelaide.

Speaking on the Warm Up, he said: “The issue for me isn’t that there isn’t enough talent or will, it’s just being hard-nosed enough to understand that Test match cricket isn’t basically a turkey shoot.

“Sometimes, you have to absorb and sit in. It is about playing the situation rather than having an overarching philosophy about a play style that they play no matter what.

“You can bully poor teams like that, but against a team full of hard-nosed cricketers, you aren’t going to push them around.

“You have to play the game the way it is meant to be played.”

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Bold

Jamie Smith has proven in his short Test career that he has all the talent to be a top batter for many years.

However, his start in Australia has been poor, and he is being shown up by his opposite number, Alex Carey.

Carey has contributed runs and took some outstanding catches already.

Meanwhile, Smith has dropped a few and scored four runs in this Test, and talkSPORT’s Cricket Editor Jon Norman thinks Ollie Pope should take the gloves off him.

Speaking on Following On: Ashes Inquest, he said: “He’s never played a pink-ball Test, but he’s dropped two catches, and he’s not scored any runs.

“I think England have got a big problem there.

“I think you drop Smith, and you give Pope the gloves.”