England Need to Win Next Test or Ashes Will Get Embarrassing - McGrath

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.

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.

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.

I got a close look at England's style during the 2023 Ashes in the UK. For all of the talk about this tour being their chance to finally win a series in Australia, there was a lot of scepticism in this country about the way England play.

Would England's batting be suited to Australian conditions? Would they play big shots and find ways to get out? Would they crumble under the pressure of the big moments?

Right now, all of the Australians who were sceptical about England are being proved right.

There is a lot I like about England's attitude. I love it when sportspeople play without fear, because that helps them push the boundaries of what is possible.

But I don't like the idea that pressure or expectation needs to be removed. The great players thrive under pressure, and the best teams hold each other to account.

I played in an Australian team that won a lot, under some tough captains in Allan Border, Mark Taylor, Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting.

Yes, there were the coaches like Bob Simpson and John Buchanan, but it was the captain and senior players who always ran the dressing room.

Even as a young player, I felt like I was allowed to have my say and opinion. Everyone took ownership of the team.

Then, if someone stepped out of line, they were held accountable by the other players. If someone made a mistake on more than one occasion - which didn't happen very often - they were told.

We had some huge personalities - none bigger than the great Shane Warne - but we all felt that what we were doing was for the team and for each other. Matthew Hayden used to say we pulled together because of the love we had for each other, such was the amount of time we had as a group.

That accountability, responsibility and adaptability all came together when we stepped on to the field as a team.

Admittedly, all of these things are easier when a team is winning, which England are not doing right now.

- Author: Glenn McGrath, BBC