• Head coach defends squad’s break before third Test

• ‘You have to be strong and get on with it’

Brendon McCullum has insisted that England have the quality and character to pick themselves off the canvas and fight their way back into the Ashes contest, and refused to accept the idea of players feeling sorry for themselves after starting the series with two savage defeats. “You come to this country and have a glass jaw, you have no chance,” he said. “You have to be strong, tough, and you have to get on with it.”

England travel to Noosa on Tuesday for a short break before moving to Adelaide to begin their preparations for the third Test, 2-0 down for the third Ashes series in succession . In 2020-21 Australia converted that lead into a 4-0 series win, but in 2023 England fought back to draw 2-2.

• Head coach defends squad’s break before third Test

• ‘You have to be strong and get on with it’

Brendon McCullum has insisted that England have the quality and character to pick themselves off the canvas and fight their way back into the Ashes contest, and refused to accept the idea of players feeling sorry for themselves after starting the series with two savage defeats. “You come to this country and have a glass jaw, you have no chance,” he said. “You have to be strong, tough, and you have to get on with it.”

England travel to Noosa on Tuesday for a short break before moving to Adelaide to begin their preparations for the third Test, 2-0 down for the third Ashes series in succession . In 2020-21 Australia converted that lead into a 4-0 series win, but in 2023 England fought back to draw 2-2.

• Head coach defends squad’s break before third Test

• ‘You have to be strong and get on with it’

Brendon McCullum has insisted that England have the quality and character to pick themselves off the canvas and fight their way back into the Ashes contest, and refused to accept the idea of players feeling sorry for themselves after starting the series with two savage defeats. “You come to this country and have a glass jaw, you have no chance,” he said. “You have to be strong, tough, and you have to get on with it.”

England travel to Noosa on Tuesday for a short break before moving to Adelaide to begin their preparations for the third Test, 2-0 down for the third Ashes series in succession . In 2020-21 Australia converted that lead into a 4-0 series win, but in 2023 England fought back to draw 2-2.