England are in disarray. This is what they should be doing in Noosa to beat Australia in the third Test in Adelaide

If the squad has used their time in Noosa wisely – starting with mental freshness then pivoting to honest reflection – they can retrieve the situation. McCullum was derided in some quarters for saying that his team was guilty of overtraining before the second Test in Brisbane.

“If anything, we’ve probably trained too much, to be honest,” he said. “I think sometimes there’s a tendency to want to overdo things to try and make up for it … We all have to find a way to ensure that we feel prepared physically, technically, and we are ready for the battle, but also to make sure we are fresh.”

In a way, this validates the break. Hopefully they dedicated the first 48 hours of that break to the “friend” role – with little or no cricket talk. Let the players swim, bond as mates, play golf if they want to so the scars can heal. This support will remind them they’re valued beyond results, recharging energy levels and turning frustration into resolve.

The second half of their Noosa break should have shifted to the “teacher” role: a disciplined, ego-free debrief. This constructive confrontation should have framed discussions around “how” rather than “who” – not blaming individuals, but dissecting collective processes. What failed in adapting to the moving ball? Why did partnerships fail to materialise? I trust that they addressed reckless tactics like charging fast bowlers or indiscriminate ramp shots; there may be moments for them, but not on day one of such a crucial Test.

Plan to win by all means, but recognise you can’t do it in a session. You can, however, lose it through poor play.

A victory demands many solid days: batting and bowling as a unit, catching everything. Batsmen must prioritise partnerships – if one is flowing, the other bats around him, ensuring he gets the strike. Don’t deprive the hot hand. Return the favour when the roles are reversed.

Tailenders, take note from Will Jacks supporting Stokes in Brisbane: learn to rotate the strike and protect the senior partner.

From this debrief, they should have decided on a detailed approach for Adelaide and how to integrate it into pre-match preparation. The team hasn’t operated cohesively yet – bowlers and batsmen must be in sync.

Move to Adelaide with a clear plan: the first training day should be full-on competitive, practising as they intend to play. Don’t repeat this intensity daily, or they’ll exhaust themselves before the Test starts, but make that first session count.

Simulate match rhythm in the nets: two bowlers per net, alternating sets of six balls to mimic the flow of a match. Tell the batsmen where the fielders are and bowl the ball fuller. Just as batsmen thrive in pairs, bowlers must, too; if one builds pressure but the other leaks runs, everything unravels.

Emphasise the fuller lengths and consistent effort; wickets come from good balls compounding into good overs and good spells, not isolated miracles. Batsmen: seek scoring opportunities, but like Joe Root in Brisbane, respect quality deliveries – leave or defend accordingly.

In other words, bat as though your life depends on it: at the least, your career might.

In the Adelaide nets, centre on process-focused goals to rebuild competence. Players must learn to judge themselves on how well they reacted to each delivery. If they are responding appropriately, they will find that they are hitting the ball well and not getting out.

A target of not getting out in each net session and responding well will have each batter well prepared for day one.

The target for the first innings must be to keep Australia in the field for a minimum of 110 overs. This will ensure that all the home side’s bowlers will have delivered many overs, which makes it tougher for them to back up in the second innings. Runs follow endurance. Endurance is built on good concentration.

Playing each ball on its merits hones shot selection, vital against Australia’s relentless lengths, and it trains the switch on, switch off concentration that underpins consistent performance.

Bowlers must re-establish control through persistently hitting the dangerous full length and fields must encourage the fuller delivery. Stokes must be more patient and put each new batsman under pressure when he comes to the crease. Pressure is not built when the bowler is going for nine or 10 runs an over.

All of this builds some resilience into game day and sets one up for success. As McCullum put it: “The moment you stop trying, the result is final. If you keep going, no matter how slow that may be, the chance for success remains open. It reminds you that it is perseverance, not perfection, which ultimately leads to accomplishment.”

Ownership is key: players must embrace adjustments.

I don’t expect England to make wholesale personnel changes for Adelaide, but they must finally demonstrate mastery of the basics – rigorous application of old-fashioned principles like commitment to the hard yards that win games.

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This series turnaround hinges on that: survive with the bat, grind with the ball, one delivery at a time.

McCullum’s leadership can rally them: “For us it’s about making sure we don’t allow our confidence and our camaraderie to dip too low. We know that at our best we’re a very good cricket team.”

By leveraging Noosa for reset and review, then honing processes in Adelaide, England can begin the match with accountable confidence. This isn’t about ditching Bazball’s spirit; it’s evolving it with responsibility.

McCullum’s greatest challenge is proving his freedom breeds toughness. I believe he will. Adelaide offers the chance to transform bitter defeats into better cricket, proving great teams are forged in resilience, not just flair. The mountain is steep, but climb it one ball at a time, and the view from the top will be rewarding.