Doing the same thing but expecting a different outcome may well be the definition of insanity—just don’t tell under-siege England head coach Brendan McCullum.
Despite top-order implosions in both Perth and Brisbane, England’s cricketing hierarchy is considering doubling down yet again by taking the same batting line-up into the must-win Third Ashes Test in Adelaide.
Number three Ollie Pope and wicketkeeper batsman Jamie Smith were thought to be the men most in the selection crosshairs with 22-year-old Jacob Bethel tipped to earn a Test recall following a strong showing in the recent England Lions-Australia A match in Brisbane.
However Brendan McCullum has since poured cold water on suggestions of changes at the top of the England batting order.
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“I wouldn’t have thought so,” McCullum told the media when asked if new faces could be expected at the Adelaide Oval.
“These conditions should suit the style of batters that we’ve got, we know we haven’t got enough runs so far in this series, we’ve been in positions where we could have and made some mistakes.”
With backs firmly against the wall at 0-2 in the five-match Ashes series, the New Zealander went on to explain now isn’t the time to abandon England’s much talked about ‘Bazball’ playing style—or the players entrusted to deliver it.
“It’s not about throwing out what has been successful for us over the last few years, it’s about having more conviction, knee-jerk reactions or chopping and changing settled batting lineups is not really our way,” he added in typically defiant style.
If England indeed takes an unchanged batting line-up into the Third Test, it will be the latest in a long line of seemingly stubborn Ashes Tour decisions that have been openly questioned—and frequently criticised—by former players and fans alike.
Insanity? Possibly. Time will tell.
The Third Ashes Test between Australia and England begins at Adelaide Oval on Wednesday 17 December.