Daijiworld Media Network - Adelaide

Adelaide, Dec 21: England head coach Brendon McCullum on Sunday admitted to mistakes in planning and preparation after England surrendered the Ashes with an 82-run defeat to Australia in the third Test at the Adelaide Oval.

McCullum’s comments come amid mounting criticism over England’s limited preparation for the Ashes tour, with former players and cricket pundits questioning the lack of adequate practice matches in Australian conditions. The series defeat has also placed McCullum’s coaching approach under intense scrutiny.

“It is disappointing when you lose and I’m sure there will be plenty of questions asked, and rightfully so,” McCullum told BBC Test Match Special after the loss.

“We haven’t got everything right. I haven’t got everything right as a coach and I put my hand up for that.”

England’s build-up to the Ashes featured just one intra-squad match against the England Lions in Perth. The team opted against additional tour matches despite suffering defeats in earlier games in Perth and Brisbane.

The preparation strategy mirrored England’s approach on recent tours to India and Pakistan, where limited warm-up matches were also part of the planning.

“I have been very strong about the conviction we had in our preparation,” McCullum said, while acknowledging that the outcome suggested the approach may not have worked in the high-pressure Ashes environment.

The admission marks a rare public acknowledgment of error from McCullum, whose aggressive and confident ‘Bazball’ philosophy has defined England’s recent red-ball cricket, but failed to deliver success in the Ashes series.