Legendary Australia cricketer Glenn McGrath warned the England team that the ongoing Ashes series will get "embarrassing" if they do not win the upcoming third Test. The Baggy Greens currently lead the series by 2-0 after recording two consecutive eight-wicket defeats. The Three Lions have clearly been the inferior team and have been dominated in both the batting and bowling departments by their arch-rivals.
McGrath feels that the series is almost done and dusted already, adding that Australia wouldn't have expected to have a convincing 2-0 lead after playing just six days of cricket.
“This series is not dead, but it's not far from it. If England don't win the third Test in Adelaide, it will get embarrassing. Not in Australia's wildest dreams could they have believed they would be 2-0 up in this Ashes series after playing only six days of cricket. They were put under the pump by England in the first Test in Perth, then pulled off an incredible turnaround," McGrath wrote in his column for BBC.
McGrath on Australia's dominant display so far
The former seamer remarked that Australia's dominant performance in the series opener set up their victory in the pink-ball Test at The Gabba. McGrath believes that the Baggy Greens taught England a lesson on how to play day-night Test cricket with their one-sided win.
“It put them on a wave of confidence going into the second Test in Brisbane, where they gave England a lesson in how to play Test cricket, particularly day-night Test cricket," McGrath further wrote.
McGrath concerned with England's approach
McGrath further said that he is concerned with England's approach under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, adding that their culture lacks accountability and it leads to them not adapting their game according to the conditions.
“My concern for England was the message of 'this is the way we play' yielded a culture that lacks accountability. It was almost that England had decided conditions had to adapt to them, rather than England adapting their game to suit the conditions," he further wrote.
Meanwhile, the third Ashes Test is set to commence from December 17 at the Adelaide Oval. After winning the first two games comfortably, Australia will be the favourites to win this match as well and the onus will be on England to deliver a good performance and make their way back into the series.