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Former England captain Michael Atherton criticised current head coach Brendon McCullum for the comments that he made after the side's 8-wicket defeat to Australia in the second Ashes Test. Notably, McCullum had claimed that the team was almost "overprepared" for the pink-ball Test in Brisbane. This came after the Three Lions had been criticised for not preparing properly for the opening two games of the series.
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"I think leading into this test match, I actually felt like we overprepared, to be honest. We had five intense training days and I think sometimes when you're in the heat of the battle, as we all know, I think sometimes the most important thing is to feel a little bit fresh and make sure your top two inches is completely sound. And I think the boys just need a few days off and probably need to change up a few of the training methods a little bit. So we'll look at some alternative methods over the next few days," McCullum said while speaking to Channel 7.
England's lack of preparation
England had decided to play just a two-game against the England Lions before the first Test and then decided to not field any of their regulars for the pink-ball match against the Prime Minister's XI. Atherton remarked that even though he understands what McCullum wanted to say, his comments still came as a little bit "tone deaf".
"It will wind England fans up because what they will see is a team that's not playing a lot and not necessarily practising that much. I think what he meant by that was that they arranged, because of that [first] Test finishing early and the fact that they didn't go to Canberra, what was three days practice became five because they booked extra nets," Atherton said on Sky Sports.
"And his point is five days netting can kind of actually dull your sharpness a bit. You get over-netted. So I knew what he was trying to say, but it was kind of a little bit tone deaf, wasn't it, and would have wound England supporters up. But I think you use your nets wisely to be sharp. But, again, that was his call," he added.
Australia only one win away
Despite their defeats to Australia in the first two Tests, England have decided not to play any warm-up games ahead of the Adelaide Test that will commence from December 17. If the Aussies emerge victorious in the upcoming game, then they will seal the series with two Tests still left to play. It has now become a mountain task for Ben Stokes & Co. to make a comeback in the Ashes.
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