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Beyond the Aussies' wildest dreams would they have imagined they'd find themselves 2-0 up in this Ashes series following just only six days of play.

The hosts were placed under severe pressure by the tourists in the first Test at the WACA, before executing a remarkable reversal.

This propelled them riding a crest of self-belief going into the Brisbane encounter, where they gave the English side a lesson in how to play Test cricket, especially pink-ball matches.

Series on the Brink

The contest remains alive, but it's not far from it. If England fail to win the Adelaide Test, it will get embarrassing.

I got a close look at England's style throughout the 2023 Ashes in the UK. For all of the discussion regarding this trip being their chance to finally win a victory down under, existed considerable scepticism among Australian pundits concerning the manner the English team performs.

Was the English batting lineup be appropriate for the pitches in Australia? Would they attempt big shots and discover methods to get out? Might they collapse when pressure mounted during crucial phases?

Right now, all of the Australian observers who were sceptical about England are being proved validated.

Attitude and Accountability

There is a lot I admire about England's attitude. I appreciate it when athletes compete fearlessly, because that helps them push the boundaries of potential.

However, I disagree with the notion that external pressure or expectation should be eliminated. The great players thrive under pressure, and the best teams hold each other are accountable.

"Indeed, there existed support staff like Bob Simpson and John Buchanan, but it was the captain and experienced players who invariably managed the team environment."

Even when a newcomer, I believed I had permission to have my say. Everyone took ownership for the squad's performance.

Then, if someone stepped out from the standard, they were held accountable from their teammates. If an individual committed a mistake on more than one occasion - which didn't happen frequently - they were told.

The Australian Blueprint

Our team contained several dominant characters - none bigger than the legendary Shane Warne - yet we collectively believed that what we were doing was for the team and our comrades. Opener Matthew Hayden often stated we united due to the affection we shared, such was the amount of time we had as a group.

That sense of duty, responsibility and adaptability collectively manifested when we stepped on to the field as a unit.

Certainly, these factors prove simpler when a team secures victories, which England are currently not experiencing right now.

A Culture in Question

My concern regarding England was the message of "this is the way we play" yielded a culture that lacks personal responsibility.

It seemed as if England had concluded conditions had to adapt to their game, instead of the team adjusting their strategy to suit the conditions.

Ultimately, following the result of the defeat at the Gabba, it appears the penny has dropped.

Both Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum acknowledged problems exist, and they need to do something to address them.

I hold no problems with the statements the English leadership said in public after the Brisbane Test. Should the captain and coach have been strong publicly, one can be sure they have been even more forceful behind closed doors.

Evolution Required

Will we now see a new version of Bazball? Like I said, I like the aspect of competing without fear. If England can add the ingredients of embracing pressure and mutual accountability, then they might still possess to something.

For all that England have faced criticism, Australia deserve a huge amount for their performance.

Had England had been told they would face an Australian side without all of their captain Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon, they would have been delighted with glee.

And yet, Australia pulled off a win in Brisbane with all of their other players rising to the occasion.

Australian Standouts

Mitchell Starc has been exceptionally brilliant, supported by Neser, Boland and Brendan Doggett.

Alex Carey put in an absolute masterclass behind the stumps, possibly the best wicketkeeping performance I have witnessed - and I played with Ian Healy and Adam Gilchrist.

Perhaps the biggest revelation from an Australian perspective has been the shift in the batting order.

Prior to the contest, when there seemed to be a lot of debate about the Australia line-up, I said there was only really a debate about one area - batter Usman Khawaja's opening partner.

That debate has been settled, simply not in the manner anyone expected.

Settling the Order

Ever since Batsman Travis Head volunteered to bat as an opener following Khawaja's injury in Perth, Australia have looked like a different team. Now, there seems to be the opportunity for Travis Head and Jake Weatherald to cement themselves as the opening pair.

Khawaja might face difficulty to regain his place, despite the coach Andrew McDonald has suggested he could bat in the middle order.

Absences and the Next Challenge

Fitness issues will result in English speedster Mark Wood and Australian seamer Josh Hazlewood will miss the third Test and the rest of the series.

That is an unfortunate situation for both athletes. I understand the immense effort required to bowl quickly, the effort that goes into recovering from injuries, and how desperate both would have been to play a full part in this contest. They are surely devastated.

The Adelaide Oval will be a good pitch, with something in it for batsmen and bowlers alike. Australia will certainly recall Lyon and it looks like Cummins will return to lead.

The Final Word

Australia recalls how England recovered from 2-0 down to level the last Ashes. They will know England are dangerous.

On this occasion, they have England in a stranglehold and should not let up merely because key players are returning. They cannot becoming overconfident.

An Australia team should always think it is capable of winning every Test it contests, so for that reason this team should be thinking for a five-nil whitewash.

England understands they have no choice but to turn things around in Adelaide. Failure to do so, could indeed lead to a 5-0 series defeat.