Adelaide, Dec 21 (NationPress) England's head coach Brendon McCullum has conceded that the team’s preparations for the Ashes series were inadequate, and he is ready for the ensuing scrutiny following an 82-run defeat at the Adelaide Oval. This loss marks the third consecutive defeat for England after setbacks in Perth and Brisbane, handing Australia an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series and allowing them to retain the coveted Ashes title.

McCullum acknowledged that their adversaries had “outplayed” them in every facet of the game, and he noted that this Australian team exhibited the most “precise,” “formidable,” and “consistent” performance he has seen in years.

“We are clearly disappointed,” McCullum expressed. “We arrived here filled with high hopes and ambitious objectives, and we’ve been outperformed over the course of three Test matches. When you don’t meet your expectations, you must accept the outcome.”

“I believe that the last day-and-a-half, maybe two days, we have played our best cricket, primarily because we simply played,” he added.

“We were aware that Australia is a formidable opponent in their own conditions. We thought we would be competitive and could capitalize on crucial moments, but we’ve fallen short. Our bowling lacked the relentlessness in accuracy and challenge on the pitch that was necessary. With the bat, we didn’t score enough runs and failed to find the necessary tempo. Our fielding also let us down with missed opportunities.”

On the final day, England's lower order displayed some resilience, which McCullum commended, particularly highlighting the efforts of wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith and all-rounder Brydon Carse. Their contributions raised hopes for a miraculous comeback, but Australia's disciplined bowling attack kept them firmly in control, maintaining their grip on the urn.

Smith (60), Will Jacks (47), and Brydon Carse (38 not out) provided a glimmer of hope for Ben Stokes' side after England reached 207-6 on Sunday. However, Mitchell Starc (3-62) pushed Australia closer to victory before Scott Boland dismissed Josh Tongue, concluding the tourists' innings at 352 while chasing a record 435.

“I feel that the last day-and-a-half, two days, have been our best cricket, primarily because we just let ourselves play,” he remarked. “For the prior nine days, we were overly focused and driven to achieve success that we inadvertently hindered our own talent and abilities.”

“It’s only been in the last couple of days that we’ve relaxed and truly competed, showcasing our best play of the tour.”

“This experience offers a lesson, not just for the players but for the coach and coaching staff as well. How can we allow our players to feel liberated under high pressure instead of waiting until the last two days?”

Despite having nine scores of thirty or more throughout their two innings, England's performance in Adelaide was markedly flawed, with none of their batsmen reaching a century. McCullum took solace in the fact that a team previously outplayed in critical moments had finally shown glimpses of the character that should have been evident throughout the series.

“I am aware that this will be a point of contention,” he said. “After losing 3-0, one must acknowledge, ‘perhaps I didn’t prepare adequately.’”

“Ultimately, the responsibility lies with me regarding how I prepare my team. I had conviction in our methods, not just leading into the first Test but also in between Tests. Looking back, I wonder if we needed more preparation before the first Test and less before the second? These are the adjustments you contemplate over time.”

“In hindsight, we lost 3-0, indicating there was room for change. As a coach, one must admit mistakes. However, I felt our approach would give us the best chance, as it has in the past. Now, sitting at 3-0, it didn’t yield the desired results.”

With England having not won a Test in Australia since their victorious tour of 2010–11, spanning eighteen matches, McCullum insists there is still much pride at stake as they prepare for the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.

“We have a significant opportunity in the next two Tests,” he stated. “That’s the message to the players. We need to extract something from this tour, salvage some pride, and play for the supporters who have traveled to Australia and those back home in England. If we can achieve that, we will leave with a sense of pride.