NEW DELHI: Australian legend Glenn McGrath has delivered a stark warning on the ongoing Ashes series. With Australia leading 2-0, he made it clear that England’s only chance to avoid embarrassment is a win in the third Test in Adelaide.
McGrath in his column in BBC News said, "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."
"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."
He added that the second Test in Brisbane was a masterclass in day-night Test cricket.
"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."
England must adapt
McGrath also criticised England’s approach and stressed the need to adjust to conditions.
"My concern for England was the message of 'this is the way we play' yielded a culture that lacks accountability. It was almost that England had decided conditions had to adapt to them, rather than England adapting their game to suit the conditions."
He concluded that after the Brisbane defeat, England finally seem to realise the urgency of the situation.
"Finally, in the aftermath of the defeat in Brisbane, it looks like the penny has dropped."
'Not in Australia's wildest dreams': Glenn McGrath makes a blunt comment on England’s poor campaign in Ashes series
NEW DELHI: Australian legend Glenn McGrath has delivered a stark warning on the ongoing Ashes series. With Australia leading 2-0, he made it clear that England’s only chance to avoid embarrassment is a win in the third Test in Adelaide.
McGrath in his column in BBC News said, "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."
"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."
He added that the second Test in Brisbane was a masterclass in day-night Test cricket.
"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."
England must adapt
McGrath also criticised England’s approach and stressed the need to adjust to conditions.
"My concern for England was the message of 'this is the way we play' yielded a culture that lacks accountability. It was almost that England had decided conditions had to adapt to them, rather than England adapting their game to suit the conditions."
He concluded that after the Brisbane defeat, England finally seem to realise the urgency of the situation.
"Finally, in the aftermath of the defeat in Brisbane, it looks like the penny has dropped."