Brendon McCullum rejects ‘poor preparation’ talk, says England actually over-trained before Brisbane loss
Brendon McCullum denies claims of poor preparation after England’s heavy Brisbane defeat, admitting the team may have pushed too hard in training before the Ashes Test.
Last Updated: 09.48 PM, Dec 07, 2025
England’s humbling defeat at the Gabba, Brisbane, has sparked predictable criticism from former players, pundits and fans, but head coach Brendon McCullum has offered a surprising take. Far from accepting that England failed to prepare adequately for the second Ashes Test, McCullum spoke about how the issue was actually the opposite: the team trained too much in the days leading up to the match.
The eight-wicket loss in Brisbane opened a millions of opinions about England’s readiness, especially after falling 0–2 behind in the series. Some people spoke about how England lacked match practice, while others pointed fingers at their training intensity.
According to the head coach, the team was desperate to correct mistakes from the opening Test defeat. In that urgency, they may have overloaded themselves with technical drills, scenario work and fitness sessions, leaving little room for recovery.
“Not from a preparation point of view. If anything, we've probably trained too much to be honest. We've had five intense training sessions leading into this game, and that's something as a coach you've got to make sure you're aware of. I think sometimes there's a tendency to want to overdo things to try and make up for it. But as we all know in this game, it's playing the top two inches,” McCullum told BBC's Test Match Special after the end of the Brisbane Test.
We've got to find a way: Brendon McCullum
Head coach Brendon McCullum also spoke about how difficult the battle has been and how they can prepare well in the upcoming games. They will have three matches to go and they can try to win those to win the series. Moreover, England also have a chance to draw the series if they win two games and draw one. Hence, it will be interesting to watch the upcoming matches.
“We've got to find a way to be able to, we all have to find a way to be able to ensure that we feel prepared physically, we're prepared technically, we're prepared for the battle, we adjust to the conditions as quickly as we can. But also, make sure we're fresh, and we're ready, and we're able to make those succinct decisions in the heat of the battle, which can win or lose games,” he added.
Where to watch the Australia vs England 3rd Test match?
Cricket fans in India can watch the Australia vs England 3rd Test match on December 17 online on JioHotstar, via OTTplay Premium.