\n<\/p>\n
Over the course of 150 years of Test cricket history there is a reason why successful batting has been built of solid defence, not sailing down the pitch and taking a swipe at the bowling.<\/p>\n
I have spoken to a number of former Australia players since the first Test ended. One problem they identified is a lack of accountability in the England set-up.<\/p>\n
“That’s the way we play,” is a mantra of this England team and it is one of their failings.<\/p>\n
There should be some reflection on what happened in Perth, looking at what happened in a mature fashion.<\/p>\n
The shots Brook was playing were from the third XI of a village team. He needs to grow up. Compare Brook with the wonderful innings of Travis Head. There is a huge difference between recklessness and controlled aggression.<\/p>\n
We have laboured the point about England’s limited preparation, but a lot of what we feared came true in the first Test.<\/p>\n
When it was announced that England had only one warm-up game against the Lions, we could have predicted how wickets would fall in the first Test: edging rising deliveries outside off stump by attempting to play booming drives. Look what happened.<\/p>\n
A lot of the anger aimed at England comes from a feeling they do not care. Supporters see the way these England players get out and think it does not matter to them.<\/p>\n
I can categorically say it is not true. The players care deeply. In the aftermath of the Test I saw Crawley in a cafe. He had just bagged a pair, facing only 11 balls in the match.<\/p>\n
He looked utterly miserable, sitting there like a man with a contagious disease. He was certainly not out having a good time, or playing 18 holes on the golf course.<\/p>\n
The golf narrative is another I can defend England from. When they train, they train hard. What are they supposed to do for the rest of the day? Sit in their hotel rooms watching Netflix? There is nothing wrong with being in the fresh air, doing something to take the mind away from cricket.<\/p>\n
England are only 1-0 down. It would be madness to write them off in this series. One thing they can take from Perth is they exposed some vulnerabilities in the Australia team.<\/p>\n
But Stokes, McCullum and the rest must pick themselves up and understand the right way to go about things in Brisbane.<\/p>\n
I once played in a one-day international at the Melbourne Cricket Ground where we got trounced by seven wickets. We walked off in front of 85,000 people knowing we had been thoroughly outplayed. I never wanted to experience that feeling again.<\/p>\n
This England team will have gone through the same in Perth and should now be determined not to have a repeat in Brisbane.<\/p>\n
A result at the Gabba is vital. If England go 2-0 down, jobs and careers will be on the line.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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