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Beyond Australia's most optimistic hopes would they have imagined they'd find themselves 2-0 up in this historic rivalry after playing a mere six days of cricket.

They were placed under severe pressure by England in the first Test in Perth, before executing a remarkable reversal.

It put them riding a crest of confidence going into the Brisbane encounter, where they gave England a lesson in how to play Test cricket, particularly pink-ball matches.

A Critical Juncture

This series is not dead, but it's perilously close. If England fail to win the Adelaide Test, it will get deeply humiliating.

I gained an intimate view at England's style throughout the 2023 Ashes in the UK. For all of the discussion about this tour being their chance to finally win a victory in Australia, there was a lot of scepticism among Australian pundits concerning the manner the English team performs.

Would England's batting be suited to Australian conditions? Would they attempt big shots and find ways to lose their wickets? Might they collapse when pressure mounted during crucial phases?

At present, all of the Australian observers who expressed doubts regarding England are being proved right.

Mindset and Responsibility

There is a lot I like about England's attitude. I love it when athletes compete fearlessly, because that helps them push the boundaries of what is possible.

But I don't like the notion that pressure or expectation should be eliminated. The great players excel when challenged, and the best teams hold each other to account.

"Indeed, there existed support staff such as Simpson and John Buchanan, but it was the captain and senior players who always ran the team environment."

Even when a young player, I felt like I had permission to have my say. Every player assumed ownership of the team.

Subsequently, should someone stepped out of line, they faced consequences from their teammates. If someone made an error repeatedly - which didn't happen frequently - they were addressed.

The Australian Blueprint

Our team contained several dominant characters - no one more prominent than the great Shane Warne - but we all felt that what we were doing served the team and for each other. Opener Matthew Hayden often stated we united due to the affection we had for each other, such was the duration we had as a group.

That accountability, responsibility and adaptability collectively manifested as we walked onto the pitch as a unit.

Admittedly, all of these things prove simpler while a side secures victories, a scenario 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 deficient in personal responsibility.

It seemed that England had concluded pitches must conform to them, instead of England adapting their strategy to the prevailing conditions.

Ultimately, in the aftermath of the loss in Brisbane, it looks like the penny has dropped.

Both Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum acknowledged problems exist, and they must take action about it.

I have no issue with what the English leadership said in public at the Gabba. Should the captain and coach have been strong in the media, you can guarantee they have been even more even stronger behind closed doors.

Evolution Required

Might we witness a new version of Bazball? Like I said, I support the aspect of competing without fear. Provided England can add the elements of embracing pressure and mutual accountability, then they might still be on to something.

Despite the fact England have faced criticism, Australia merits significant credit for their performance.

Had England had been told they would play an Australia team lacking Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Lyon, they would have been rubbing their hands with glee.

Nevertheless, Australia achieved victory in Brisbane with all of their other players standing up.

Australian Standouts

Pacer Mitchell Starc has proven absolutely outstanding, ably assisted by Michael Neser, Boland and Brendan Doggett.

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

Maybe the most significant discovery from an Australian perspective has been the change in the batting order.

Prior to the contest, when there seemed to be a lot of discussion about the Australia line-up, I stated there was essentially just a debate concerning one position - batter Usman Khawaja's opening partner.

That discussion is now resolved, just not in the manner anyone predicted.

The New Opening Pair

Ever since Travis Head volunteered to bat as an opener when Khawaja got hurt during the Perth Test, Australia has appeared transformed. Now, it appears to be the opportunity for Travis Head and Jake Weatherald to cement themselves as the first-wicket duo.

Khawaja might face difficulty to regain his place, despite the coach Andrew McDonald has indicated he might feature at number five.

Injuries and the Adelaide Test

Fitness issues will result in England's Mark Wood and Australia's Josh Hazlewood will miss the third Test and the remainder of the series.

That is an unfortunate situation for both men. I understand how much hard work required to bowl quickly, the effort that goes into recovering from injuries, and how desperate both players were to play a full part in this contest. They will be heartbroken.

Adelaide will provide a quality surface, offering something for batsmen and bowlers alike. Australia will certainly recall Lyon and it looks like Cummins will be back to captain the side.

The Final Word

Australia recalls how England recovered from 2-0 down to level the last Ashes. They are aware England poses a threat.

This time, they hold England in a stranglehold and should not let up just because key players are coming back. They must avoid get complacent.

An Australian side should always think it is capable of winning every Test it plays, so for that reason this team ought to be aiming for a 5-0.

England will know they have no choice to reverse their fortunes at Adelaide. If they don't, then it really could be 5-0.